It's been a week of silence almost, my ears have heard some things that need to be put on the carpet and exposed for what they truly are. The "calling out" something similar to this situation I remember when I was a child. There was this neighbor that had this dog, a big ferocious and constantly barking dog. He would bark in the morning, night and all manner of the hour. I remember his bark, it was bold and distinctive. Almost every passer-by did so with the timidity of that elephant in that old nursery rhyme that was weary of the mouse. I recall upon days where the mailman was put at his wits ends as a result of the pending torture of this creature if he were to ever be released from his leash. I recall sitting in my window watching wondering what would really happen to us all if he were to ever find freedom. As the seasons changed and the strength of his chain began to wear his confine was no more. The day that his release was made evident I recall my vigilance as his demeanor and robustness was scouring every corner of my hood. I ran from window to window to keep him in my vision, from upstairs to down just to catch a peek of whom he would devour. For a second or two I lost sight of him but his ever sounding bark was distinguishable. I ran to my room to see if I could catch a glimpse of the person who would become his prey. Just then I could see about a half block radius that the mailman was proceeding with his job and about to turn the corner on my street, all as the dog was making his turn to greet him. My heart was racing and my anxiety for this poor mailman was rising in my chest. With hands pressed to glass and each breath marked by the dew on the pane. I inhaled and exhaled with increasing speed as the steps of the two became closer and closer. The demeanor of the mailman indicated that he was ignorant of the canine's release, simply by the routine of this bark and no apparent attack until this point made this man seemed oblivious to the possible urgency of the impending meeting. Then "bam" out of nowhere the sight of the mailman caught a glimpse of this "creature on the prowl'. It was if time froze for this man. But for the canine it was swift and punctual, the dog ran to this sculpture of flesh known as the "postman". Dust was flying everywhere the bark and ferocity of this dog was even more intense! I could see limbs and letters suspended in air. "What a display"! Then I could see the hand of a man draw a small can from its pocket to spray and a yell of warning from the man, saying "get out of here". And before the spray could be made manifest the canine yelped, tucked tail and ran! My heart stopped racing and my mouth flew open! I was confused! How could this "beast of bark" with such ferocity be so ineffective in attack. The way he had been barking for seasons seemed as if he would have taken down the "strongest" of opponent. That's when I learned you can never tell the ferocity of a dog simply by his bark! This brings me to this point...."my people use not just your bark to bring about change for if you are ever truly challenged with strength and defense you shall in turn tuck tail and run".