<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b class="">Thank you Joan and Lydia for appreciating this poem…..It is such a reminder to me, that when I face my fears, when I become fully present in the exploration of the mystery of Being, when I am </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b class="">captured by the beauty around me, and the awe and wonder of the moment…….I can totally let go…..</b></p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">and then life itself is living through me and is my trusted guide…….and no matter what unfolds next……..I am willing to embrace the experience!</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b class=""><br class=""></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b class="">To Esalen<o:p class=""></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 10pt;">Toni Bernbaum<o:p class=""></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">These eucalyptus, <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">backs peeling in the sun,<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Grow from the mouths<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">of Tibetan monks chanting <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">to the rhythm <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">of rolling tires<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">ca-lumping, ca-lumping <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">with the sway and dip <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">of this old coast road.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Rising up like seed syllables <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">swollen with prayer<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">breaking the sound barrier -<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">the world quiets to stillness<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">radiance and breath. <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hold steady the wheel,<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">velocity and vibration.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hold steady the hand <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">of this dream queen surrendered<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">to the only movement <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">steering my life<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">in this moment now -<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">as I let go,<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">let go<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">into a windshield of sun and sky<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">a synchronized astonished meadow,<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">embracing everything<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">in the lap of this<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">timeless woven<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">infinite web -<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hold steady<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hold steady the wheel<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">as I disappear<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">along a highway<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">inclined on a barrier<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">at the end of a world.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Branches swaying<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Monks praying<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Car careening<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Heart beating <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My hair is flying<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My hair is flying<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Tears are flowing<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Tears are flowing<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For no other reason<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">For no other reason<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Than the joy <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Of what ever waits<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Around the bend!<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p></body></html>