not so distant dogs bay through streets an uneasy wind slaps at leaves and now a wail-whoop of ambulance gloom loops the dying afternoon and even in the home from my room the dinny grin of television and banging doors a dull clang of words and the beating of my blood at small impending dooms. Yet. I am held - for all that - shimmering-still a castle in the eye of storms. Peace is not a white flag. its molten gold enfolds the floundering soul - enthrones it into a whole eternity of untold quiescence.