Sniper - July 9, 2000 It begins like sniper fire in a narrow alley - every shot counts every hit hurts. Practice and deliberate ignorance are the only shields against the obvious barbs. Watching the words, prying them apart, knowing their intent, I have become inured to them, absorbing them, mourning them, shedding no tears for them. I am not feeling them, nor the excitement, until I leave - then I can feel.