<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:19px">Oh, you crafty poet, you - luring me into your rhythmic vehicle like that in time for a timeless ride where you let go of it all as I grab the white-knuckled wheel of wonder, lashed to the helm, my jaw dropping wide open, falling into genuine genuflection as you go off </span><span style="font-size:19px">into a </span><span style="font-size:19px">wide-eyed world of </span><span style="font-size:19px">marvelous</span><span style="font-size:19px"> probabilities, inhaling the purest dream dust any imagination would dare to breath. Can we pull into the next rest stop for a break? I love the smell of eucalyptus. </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:19px"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:19px">Wonderful poetry, Toni! What an adventure!</span></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:19px">Admiringly,</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:19px"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:19px">~ Ed</span></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div id="composer_signature" dir="auto"><div style="font-size:12px;color:#575757" dir="auto">Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone</div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div><br></div><div align="left" dir="auto" style="font-size:100%;color:#000000"><div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Toni Bernbaum via Thespiritexpress <thespiritexpress@lists.mcn.org> </div><div>Date: 12/6/23 11:02 AM (GMT-08:00) </div><div>To: thespiritexpress@lists.mcn.org </div><div>Subject: [Thespiritexpress] To Esalen /poem read at Pathwork </div><div><br></div></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"><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 style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"><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 style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"><b class=""><br class=""></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"><b class="">To Esalen</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"><i class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt;" class="">Toni Bernbaum</span></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">These eucalyptus, </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">backs peeling in the sun,</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Grow from the mouths</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">of Tibetan monks chanting </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">to the rhythm </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">of rolling tires</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">ca-lumping, ca-lumping </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">with the sway and dip </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">of this old coast road.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Rising up like seed syllables </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">swollen with prayer</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">breaking the sound barrier -</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">the world quiets to stillness</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">radiance and breath. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Hold steady the wheel,</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">velocity and vibration.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Hold steady the hand </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">of this dream queen surrendered</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">to the only movement </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">steering my life</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">in this moment now -</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">as I let go,</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">let go</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">into a windshield of sun and sky</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">a synchronized astonished meadow,</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">embracing everything</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">in the lap of this</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">timeless woven</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">infinite web -</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Hold steady</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Hold steady the wheel</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">as I disappear</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">along a highway</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">inclined on a barrier</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">at the end of a world.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Branches swaying</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Monks praying</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Car careening</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Heart beating </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">My hair is flying</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">My hair is flying</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Tears are flowing</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Tears are flowing</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">For no other reason</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">For no other reason</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Than the joy </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Of what ever waits</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal">Around the bend!</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" class="MsoNormal"> </p></body></html>