[Thespiritexpress] Poem Read at last "Pathwork"

[Roz]

I so love this poem, Toni!  It’s so bold and rich and deep, thanks for sharing it with us!

Love, Roz

Sent from my iPad

> On Jul 28, 2023, at 8:02 AM, Shawn Abell via Thespiritexpress <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org> wrote:
> 
> Dear Toni,
> I love this poem!!! I remember the first time I heard it and was so
> blown away. It's one of my favorites of yours. Your poetry is deep
> and a voice for all women! You are so very talented.
> Thank you for sharing this!!
> much love,
> Shawn
> 
> 
> On 2023-07-27 4:44 pm, Toni Bernbaum via Thespiritexpress wrote:
>>> This is dedicated to all of us who are serious about shadow
>>> work…….its challenges and ultimate rewards……with
>>> love….Toni
>>> 
>>> Retrieval
>>> 
>>> I want it all back.
>>> 
>>> Every time I hung my head,
>>> 
>>> every word held on my tongue,
>>> 
>>> every lie I’ve told,
>>> 
>>> every piece of me I bought or sold,
>>> 
>>> thinking it would get me love.
>>> 
>>> I want it back.
>>> 
>>> The beg-your-pardons,
>>> 
>>> the I-didn’t-mean-tos,
>>> 
>>> the bowing out backwards,
>>> 
>>> the pleading, performing, and scheming.
>>> 
>>> The seducing and hiding.
>>> 
>>> The waiting.
>>> 
>>> The pretending to be what I’ve never been
>>> 
>>> with a righteous, condescending
>>> 
>>> “I’m above that” grin.
>>> 
>>> Give it to me.
>>> 
>>> The key to unshackle my shame,
>>> 
>>> my anger and blame.
>>> 
>>> I want to own it, wear it, and _not_ have to explain.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I want the truth to embrace
>>> 
>>> As I take back the pain.
>>> 
>>> I want to conjure-up all my fears in a potion,
>>> 
>>> I want to drink it and swallow all my emotions.
>>> 
>>> I want to own the devil in me  -   take back my power - get myself
>>> free-
>>> 
>>> I want the whole of me strutting
>>> 
>>> when I walk down the street
>>> 
>>> I want my dark, down, dirty self back,
>>> 
>>> Its black magic wings
>>> 
>>> arched at my shoulders,
>>> 
>>> then aimed like a warrior’s arrow,
>>> 
>>> I’m going to bend the bow of my body
>>> 
>>> so far back that nothing but its original target
>>> 
>>> is clear, and then, Lord Mama,
>>> 
>>> I’m gonna let go.
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