Don't Miss It: Poetry Friday is Here!

I'm truly honored to be hosting today's Poetry Friday event.   I always enjoy wandering through the blogs joining the Poetry Friday conversation.  It is a pleasure to be reminded of poems I have loved, to discover new poems, and to read the poems written by participants.

If you're joining us today, and I hope you are, please add your link to the comments section of this post.  Then follow the links in the post, and the comments section, to find more poetry.  I'll be by a few time across the day to update the event.  Enjoy!



A Chance
The quarter
tossed carelessly
to the bottom of my purse,
once coveted,
now overlooked.

Shiny quarter
once held such promise,
a wish for something grand
from the store's gum ball machine:
a new ring,
a bracelet of gold,
a plastic parachute man. 
Something sure to be envied. 

Twenty five cents
placed in a slot,
turn,
turn, 
click.
Opening the door
revealed a clear plastic bubble,
the tiny treasure inside
never what I imagined.

Yet, that quarter,
that shiny quarter 
earned 
or found,
would provide a chance
that maybe,
just this once,
the treasure would be
everything I hoped. 



© Cathy L. Mere



April from Teaching Authors celebrates Poetry Friday and Teen Read Week with a poem from her book, Girl Coming in for a Landing:  Imprinting.  

Have you noticed those orange pumpkins popping up on patios and near front doors?  At Father Goose  Charles Ghigna shares his original poem, Pumpkins on Guard.  You will think differently about those jack-o-lanterns on doorsteps.

Today Violet turns grandma poet to share poems written in senryu about her busy days, Grandma Poet.  If you like haiku, you won't want to miss this. Stop by Violet Nesdoly Poems.

Stop by Blue Window where B.J. shares her roundel, The Things I Saw.  Warning:  don't read it in the dark.

You can't miss this!  A little fun, a guessing game, some information --- all rolled into verse.  Tabatha Yeats shares Joyce Sidman's, Do Ya Know 'Em?.   Stop by The Opposite of Indifference to test what you know about inventors.

Mary Lee wakes up early to share Millay's, The Fig, at A Year of Reading.  She also tackles some big questions and misconceptions we may have about the poem.

It's a good day for Millay.  Julie, at The Drift Record, shares our second Millay poem, Recuerdo.  Join Julie as she takes us on a virtual ferry ride.

At I Think in Poems, Betsy shares an original poem about those writers that are just discovering the power of their words, Tiny Hands.

Michelle shares Carrie Clickard's Danse Macrabe at Today's Little Ditty.  Mortimer stops by too for a little interview and some poetry fun.

Mortimer also joins Janet for her Poetry Friday post at Across the Page.

Stop by Author Amok for original concrete poems "Lucky Hat" and "Blue Ribbon" in the voice of Joe, a character cut from her novel in verse. It's number 3 in her "Kill Your Darlings" series.

Laura Purdie Salas shares her original pandoum, Otter's Winter Song.  Fascinating form and song.

Tamera also joins Poetry Friday and the Children's Poetry Blog Hop.  She shares her reasons for writing children's poetry and playing with form.  She also shares an original poem from long ago, Running.

Mortimer reappears at Mainely Write where Donna tries to impress him with some rabbit poetry.  Hop on over and join the fun.

Ride on over to Carol's Corner where Carol shares a poem from Cowboy Up, a Cybils Nonfiction Nominee, Rodeo Rider.

At Reflections on the Teche Margaret shares student poetry inspired by photography.  This poetry is sure to appeal to your senses.

Steven shares an original poem called "A Clutch of Sea Turtle Eggs" at Crackles of Speech.

One can hardly ignore politics these days.  At Random Noodling Diane shares, "In the Moonlight."  Stop by for an interesting read and some great links.

Everyone has a favorite sweatshirt.  Stop by Kurious Kitty to read "Hand Me Down Sweatshirt" from Button Up!.

Stop by Kurious K's Kwotes for something to ponder.

Dog lovers, stop here!  Robyn Hood Black shares a canine poem today with Mary Oliver's new DOG SONGS.


Looking for tasty fall treats?  Stop by Jama's Alphabet Soup for a little poetry, "A Short History of the Apple" by Laux, and a must-try recipe for Baked Apple Oatmeal Pudding.

Catherine, at Reading to the Core, shares a poem by Derek Walcott, "Love After Love."  She talks a bit about mindfulness and how knowing ourselves can help us to love others.

Amys' poem makes me laugh.  You wont' want to miss it.  So many great poems' on her page.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.  Amy LV makes me laugh with her poem Apostrophe as she sets things straight at The Poem Farm.  

At There is No Such Thing as a God-Forsaken Town, Ruth shares two powerful lines from Emily Dickinson that will make you stop and think for a bit.  So true!

Matthew Forrest Esenwine, at Radio, Rhythm and Rhyme, answers some questions from Mortimer who appears yet again on one of the Poetry Friday posts.  I must say, I learned a lot about Matthew and the writing of poetry by reading his responses.  Mortimer runs a tough interview.  There is plenty to read when you stop by; including an original apple poem by Matthew:  "The Apple Tree."


Stop by Linda Baie's blog, Teacher Dance, where she shares a story sure to lift your spirits.  Take a moment to read the Mary Oliver poem she shares, Wild Geese.  Make sure you click over to read the poem in it's entirety.  You'll be glad you did.  

Tara at A Teaching Life reminds us of the importance of slowing down a bit as she shares Robert Hedin's poem, "This Morning I Could Do a Thousand Things."  

If you've ever had a kitten you know exactly what Marileta is talking about in her original poem, "Whew."  You'll love the beautiful language used in this delightful poem of a kitten full of energy.  

Time for a little haiku.  Stop by Anastasia's blog, Poet!  Poet!, to read Sleepyhead.  I thought of the sun a little differently after reading this haiku.  



Mortimer is a busy guy.  He's visiting Tricia at Miss Rumphius Effect where she shares a poem she wishes she wrote and another she loves from long ago.  

As you go through the poems from Poetry Friday you begin to see threads.  For example, we have the obvious visits from Mortimer happening across blogs, there is also a little form challenge that appears now and again, there is the recurring thoughts of fall, and also one might notice a movement to slow down from the busy pace of life.  

Today Liz is reminding us to slow down as she shares one of her favorite Ted talks and a poem inspired by it, Cloud Watching.  

Heidi brings the busyness of school together in her original poem, The Dishwasher of My Mind, at My Juicy Little Universe.  

At Tapestry of Words, Becky shares just a taste of a poem from the poetry collection An Eyeball in My Garden.  You'll want to stop by to read her thoughts on this poetry book that had her laughing and wanting to read more.  


Do you remember spinning round and round until you collapsed in laughter nearly sick?  Well, today Joy shares her original rhyme that may have come from just spinning until poetry popped out, Little Rhymes, at Poetry for Kids Joy.  

Dia shares the Demon Snag, by 12 year old Eva, the heroine-poet from her middle grade novel, Eva of the Farm.  

It seems these days everywhere I look I see the web of a spider.  Jone weaves a web in her original poem, Orbweavers, at Check It Out.  Apparently, she has noticed this too.

At All About the Books, Janet shares one of my newer favorites:  A Full Moon Is Rising.  Seems perfect since I noticed a full moon hanging in the night sky on my way home this evening.  Stop by to read more about it.  

Myra, at Gathering Books, shares a creepy poem by Margaret Atwood, Questioning the Dead.  Surely perfect for October --- and slumber parties?  

Jen, at Teach Mentor Texts, shares her original poem Speak Up as she ponders all the would haves and should haves we consider after difficult conversations.  

Wowza!  So many great links...so little time.  That took quite some time, but well worth it.   You'll find many treasures in this virtual poetry parade.  

Comments

  1. Hi, Cathy, and thanks for hosting today! I know that quarter, hiding at the bottom, covered in lint.

    At TeachingAuthors.com we're in today with a poem about a high school science lecture...because it's Teen Read Week!

    http://www.teachingauthors.com/2013/10/teen-read-week-poetry-friday.html

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  2. (our link goes live at 3:30am Central Time)

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  3. Thanks for hosting, Cathy, and for sharing your lucky quarter!

    We're watching "Pumpkins on Guard" today at the FATHER GOOSE Blog

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  4. Hi Cathy, Thanks for hosting! I'll pick the jade-colored gum balls with that lucky quarter - please :)

    My contribution to Poetry Friday is a set of senryu inspired by last weekend spent with the little people in my life. It's here:
    http://vnesdolypoems.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/the-grandma-poet/

    Violet N.

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  5. Hi Cathy! Your poem took me way back! Thank you for hosting!
    I'm in with an original roundel about witches.

    http://bluewindow.weebly.com/

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  6. Thank you for hosting today and also for writing about a deserving, but neglected, topic so evocatively!

    I've got a poem by Joyce Sidman today. It's kind of a challenge poem!
    http://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/2013/10/eureka.html

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  7. Thanks for hosting, friend! I look forward to coming back tomorrow morning to find all the treasures found in the Poetry Friday gumball machine! I do love the memory of those plastic bubbles with their 25 cent treasures! :-)

    I've got figs and thistles on my mind today:

    http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-friday-figs-and-thistles.html

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  8. Thanks for hosting, Cathy! Over at The Drift Record I've been thinking about ferry boats, so I offer up a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay called "Recuerdo."

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  9. Ah, the tiny bubbles, those bring back memories. I loved the ending line that it might be all you hoped for. I could see you clutching one and wishing before opening it up for the big reveal. Happy childhood memories are perfect poetry topics.

    My post is a carryover from something I wrote earlier in the week. I have childhood on my mind as well. Tiny hands and all the promise they hold and carry.
    http://ithinkinpoems.blogspot.com/2013/10/tiny-hands.html

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  10. Cathy, your poem brought back a wave of memories-- begging for a quarter from my mom, hoping for the prize I wanted, always being slightly disappointed at what I got, but always keen to try again the next time. I'm delighted you recorded this universal experience in such a wonderful poem!

    Mortimer is back at my blog this week with a Halloween edition, and special guest Carrie Clickard: http://michellehbarnes.blogspot.com/2013/10/carrie-clickard-meets-mortimer.html

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  11. Thank you for hosting today! I have a post participating in the Mortimer Minute, a "children's poetry blog hop," at my blog, Across the Page:

    http://www.acrossthepage.net/2013/10/mortimer-minute/

    Thanks,
    Janet

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  12. Thanks for hosting! Your gumball poem -- I love where that spare quarter took you, especially the plastic parachute men.

    I have original concrete poems "Lucky Hat" and "Blue Ribbon" in the voice of Joe, a character cut from my novel in verse. It's number 3 in my "Kill Your Darlings" series.

    http://authoramok.blogspot.com/2013/10/joe-gets-cut-from-team-kill-your.html

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  13. Cathy, thanks for hosting! I love your poem...brings back such memories. Those plastic bubbles:>) I love your parachute man especially. I'm in today with a happy pantoum called Otter's Winter Song (to offset last week's sad/serious pantoum). It's at http://www.laurasalas.com/blog/pf-otter/

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  14. Hi Cathy,

    Thanks for hosting today. Great job capturing the anticipation of taking a chance!

    I'm in today with a stop on the poetry hop where I share one of my earliest poems. http://www.tamerawillwissinger.com/the-writers-whimsy/2013/10/17/the-tail-of-the-childrens-poetry-blog-hop.html

    Tamera

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  15. I was rarely allowed the indulgence of one of those magical plastic bubbles encapsulating unknown treasures. But when I was....mostly someone else's treasure was inside! It never seemed to fulfill it's promise, but it never released its hold. I still look at them and wish I had a quarter and not a credit card! Nice poem!
    My interview with Poetry Lover, Mortimer is at
    Mainely Write: Hey, Mortimer, Do You Have a Minute?
    Hope you can hop on over for a visit! Looks like he's made it to a few places today!
    http://mainelywrite.blogspot.com/2013/10/hey-mortimer-do-you-have-minute.html

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  16. Thanks for hosting Cathy! I'm always amazed at you talented gals who have time to teach and parent and host Poetry Friday and then write poems besides! Holy cow!

    This morning, I'm sharing my first CYBILS nominee, COWBOY UP: RIDE THE NAVAJO RODEO. A terrific combination of nonfiction and poetry, with lots of beautiful full colorful photographs.
    http://merelydaybyday.blogspot.com/2013/10/dont-miss-it-poetry-friday-is-here.html

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    Replies
    1. I 'm thrilled to know Cowboy Up! was nominated. Nancy Bo Flood's Book is WONDERFUL. I think the URL for your post at Carol's corner is http://carolwscorner.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-friday.html

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  17. We all know that experience of turning the knob and hoping for the treasure. I can smell the gumballs.

    I am here today with a link to a fine art photographer's website that inspired my students' ekphrastic poetry: http://reflectionsontheteche.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/wetlands-writing/

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  18. Do not ask how, but I somehow managed to link back to your site. Here is the link to my blog! Maybe this says something about the state of my mind, and why I am not writing poetry!
    http://carolwscorner.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-friday.html

    P.S. your poem makes me miss the days of digging through my purse for quarters for my boys!

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  19. Thanks for hosting, Cathy. Today I have an original poem called "A Clutch of Sea Turtle Eggs":

    http://cracklesofspeech.blogspot.com/2013/10/poem-clutch-of-sea-turtle-eggs.html

    Steven Withrow

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  20. I was always attracted to the gumball machine when I was a kid, so I can definitely relate!

    Over at Random Noodling I have an original poem inspired by the political scene. http://randomnoodling.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-friday-our-times.html

    Kurious Kitty shares a poem from Button Up! by Alice Schertle. http://kuriouskitty.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-friday-button-up.html

    KK's Kwotes has a quote from Sigmund Freud about poets. http://www.kkskwotes.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-friday_18.html

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  21. Thanks so much for hosting today, Cathy! Your poem takes me right back to my childhood - and my kids' childhoods. Hope your day brings treasures.

    My thoughts run canine today with Mary Oliver's new DOG SONGS:
    http://www.robynhoodblack.com/blog.htm?post=932595

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  22. Wonderful poem, Cathy -- perfectly captures that sense of anticipation and hope. I always wanted a ring! :)

    Today I'm serving up a poem by Dorianne Laux and a recipe for Baked Apple Oatmeal Pudding:

    http://jamarattigan.com/2013/10/18/friday-feast-pommes-poem-pudding/

    Thanks for hosting today!!

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  23. Your poem brings back so many memories! I used to save my quarter one week so the next week I would have two. Then I bought these great little non-fiction books that fit in my pocket. No surprise, right? :-) Today I'm sharing a poem by Derek Waloctt, Love after Love
    http://readingtothecore.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/poetry-friday-love-after-love/
    Thanks for hosting today!
    Catherine

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  24. Oh, Cathy. I am so there. I still reach into the bottom of my purse for gumballs especially...and Spree...for the children and for me too. What color will the gumball be? This is a universal, and you captured it so well.

    Today at The Poem Farm, I am hosting an apostrophe so that she can teach us about proper usage. ;)

    http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/2013/10/listen-to-this-apostrophe-teaching-in.html

    Thank you for hosting - Happy Poetry Friday!

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  25. http://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-friday-sick-edition.html

    I have two lines of Emily Dickinson today. Thanks for hosting!

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  26. Do I see watermelon gumballs?!? Yes! Come to Papa! They're the most disgusting things, but they're always the ones I'll pick first...go figure. Love your poem, Cathy, and how you elevate the poor, forgotten quarter. Today, I have apples on my mind - and a little rabbit stops by for a minute! http://mattforrest.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/poetry-friday-the-mortimer-minute-with-apples/

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  27. Fun to read the poem, Cathy, & thanks for hosting! I'm on my retreat, will comment later. http://www.teacherdance.org/2013/10/retreat-today.html

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  28. Thanks for hosting today, Cathy. I love happenening upon those quarters, too! My contribution today is a poem about lazy days, which are, alas, few and far between:
    http://tmsteach.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-friday-this-morning-i-could-do.html

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  29. I love the details in your poem, Cathy. It also makes me feel old--I think gumball machines were a nickel when I was a kid.
    I've gone from pickles to kittens at http://mariletarobinson.com/whew.

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  30. Thanks for hosting today, Cathy. I hope that next quarter brings you the treasure! I have a new haiku at Poet! Poet! "SLEEPYHEAD"

    http://www.asuen.com/poetry/sleepyhead/

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  31. Oh, the anticipation as we grip and turn the knob! Thanks for bringing back such fun childhood memories, and the sense of optimism found in trying one more time for what we really want.

    I'm in today with a fall poem and painting that reflect on the seasons of life at http://kerirecommends.com/2013/10/18/poetry-friday--an-autumn-poem.aspx

    Thanks for hosting!

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  32. thanks for hosting! absolutely LOVE A Chance! Betting on hope is always great read. Salud.

    This week, I wrote Falling High http://mmsocks.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/falling-high/

    drop by The Drawer and give it a read.

    Read, Think, Smile

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  33. Thanks for hosting today's round-up. I'm in today with the Mortimer Minute.
    The Miss Rumphius Effect - Mortimer Minute

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  34. So true. I still love those parachute men. Thanks so much for hosting today and for sharing your poem and your memories.
    Today I am sharing one of my favorite TED talks and a poem inspired by it. They are both about cloud watching.
    http://elizabethsteinglass.com/2013/10/the-sky/
    Liz

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  35. Good morning, Cathy! I'm thinking about sleep and dishwashers today at http://myjuicylittleuniverse.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-dishwasher-of-my-mind.html .

    I can feel--and recall--that deep desire for the right treasure to roll out of the fancy gumball machine. Now that I'm older I realize those machines are there to serve suckers, not gumballs, and teach us an early lesson.

    Thanks for hosting!

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  36. Thanks so much for hosting Poetry Friday today, Cathy! I love your poem--it reminds me of my mantra that all of the submissions that I have "out there" are "tiny pieces of hope" making the rounds! = )

    My Poetry Friday post today discusses a fabulous book of spooky/funny poetry called AN EYEBALL IN MY GARDEN! www.beckyshillington.blogspot.com

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  37. I have an original poem today titled LITTLE RHYMES at http://poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com

    I hope you'll drop by and take my poetry challenge.
    thank you for hosting Poetry Friday.

    JOY

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  38. Hi Cathy. I share THE DEMON SNAG, by 12-year-old Eva, the heroine-poet from my middle grade novel, EVA OF THE FARM.http://diacalhoun.blogspot.com/2013/10/poetry-friday-demon-snag.html

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  39. Donna Earnhart over at http://wordwranglerNC.wordpress.com had Mortimer visit her. You can hop over to her blog and find out what that rascally rabbit is up to. Enjoy.

    Cathy, thanks for hosting and I love the thought of all those quarters.

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  40. Thank you for hosting. Here's mine, an original poem:
    http://maclibrary.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/poetry-friday-orbweavers/

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  41. Thanks for hosting.
    My selection is A Full Moon Is Rising: poems by Marilyn Singer with pictures by Julia Cairns.

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  42. Hello there! Sorry to check in so late. And thank you for hosting this week's Poetry Friday. Here's my link - Margaret Atwood's Questioning the Dead.

    http://gatheringbooks.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/poetry-friday-margaret-atwoods-questioning-the-dead/

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  43. Hooray for poetry! Hooray for Friday! Sharing one of my own poems today about speaking up. Thanks for hosting!

    I love your quarter poem! Having kids, they are always asking to put money in the machines. It's fun to remember what it was like to love to get something out of the machines and hope for something awesome.

    http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2013/10/poetry-friday-on-speaking-up.html

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  44. Thank you so much everyone! I think I have all of the posts caught up. If you notice any corrections needed, please let me know. I really enjoyed working my way through all of the wonderful posts.

    Cathy

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  45. too good piece of information, I had come to know about your site from my friend sajid, bangalore,i have read atleast 11 posts of yours by now, and let me tell you, your web-page gives the best and the most interesting information. This is just the kind of information that i had been looking for, i'm already your rss reader now and i would regularly watch out for the new post, once again hats off to you! Thanks a lot once again, Regards, marathi chawat katha

    ReplyDelete

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