<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body><div><font face="sans-serif">I love this poem, Riantee. It is a balm to the weary soul, smoothly relinquishing the fever of the mind. Bless you and thank you!</font></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div id="composer_signature"><div style="font-size:85%;color:#575757" dir="auto">Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone</div></div><div><br></div><div style="font-size:100%;color:#000000"><!-- originalMessage --><div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Riantee Rand via Thespiritexpress <thespiritexpress@lists.mcn.org> </div><div>Date: 10/19/21 9:12 PM (GMT-08:00) </div><div>To: thespiritexpress@lists.mcn.org </div><div>Subject: [Thespiritexpress] A poem read at Mastery </div><div><br></div></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">In this World but not of this World.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class=""> </span></p><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">Oh, to lie on a bed of feathers and furs </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">in the grip of a gentle sickness</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">that embraces and covers you</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">with a mantle of vagueness,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">a kind forgetfulness of who you were</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">as you recline in the loft above the living space </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">where a crackling fire gathers friends and relatives </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">around board games and friendly chats.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class=""> </span></p><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">Oh, to rest there </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">invisible but part of it all,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">unaccounted for, </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">exempted from duties and gracious exchanges, </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">but loved and loving all the same</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">for you are no threat to anyone.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class=""> </span></p><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">Oh, to rest in this place of non-identity,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">accepted by all who love you more than ever</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">because of that sickness that removes you </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">but is not troublesome,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">knowing that your warm body </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">is healing in the softest of beds.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class=""> </span></p><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">Nothing to worry about,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">you’ll come down tomorrow or next day </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">to join in the fun,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">but until then you need peace and rest,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">the warmth from the fireplace rising to you</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">as you lounge,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">rocked by the sweet chatter below,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">taking part in it but not part of it,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">just a friend lying in a bed of compassion,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">a mother, a sister, a daughter, a goddess </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">who has come to know </span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">that this sickness is not happening to her,</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">but happening FOR her</span></div><div style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="">who has forgiven All.</span></div></body></html>