<div dir="ltr">This is absolutely stunning, dear Toni. My heart is filled with wonder. Love, Jan</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Dec 6, 2023 at 11:02 AM Toni Bernbaum via Thespiritexpress <<a href="mailto:thespiritexpress@lists.mcn.org">thespiritexpress@lists.mcn.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><b>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>captured by the beauty around me, and the awe and wonder of the moment…….I can totally let go…..</b></p><div><br></div><div>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><br></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><b>To Esalen<u></u><u></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><i><span style="font-size:10pt">Toni Bernbaum<u></u><u></u></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">These eucalyptus, <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">backs peeling in the sun,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Grow from the mouths<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">of Tibetan monks chanting <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">to the rhythm <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">of rolling tires<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">ca-lumping, ca-lumping <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">with the sway and dip <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">of this old coast road.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Rising up like seed syllables <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">swollen with prayer<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">breaking the sound barrier -<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">the world quiets to stillness<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">radiance and breath. <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Hold steady the wheel,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">velocity and vibration.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Hold steady the hand <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">of this dream queen surrendered<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">to the only movement <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">steering my life<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">in this moment now -<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">as I let go,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">let go<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">into a windshield of sun and sky<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">a synchronized astonished meadow,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">embracing everything<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">in the lap of this<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">timeless woven<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">infinite web -<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Hold steady<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Hold steady the wheel<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">as I disappear<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">along a highway<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">inclined on a barrier<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">at the end of a world.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Branches swaying<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Monks praying<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Car careening<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Heart beating <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">My hair is flying<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">My hair is flying<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Tears are flowing<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Tears are flowing<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">For no other reason<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">For no other reason<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Than the joy <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Of what ever waits<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Around the bend!<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p></div>_______________________________________________<br>
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