[Thespiritexpress] Poem read at the Solstice Gathering

[dbaker at mcn.org]

Dear Toni,
What a beautiful poem!  So many lines pull me in and then finally...."to 
grow in love no matter what"....yes!  Looking forward to your reading at 
the open mic this Sunday! YAY!
in spirit,
Devreaux




On 2024-06-24 10:32 pm, Toni Bernbaum via Thespiritexpress wrote:
> Thank you Marc for requesting a copy of the poem I wrote for Ron and
> read at the Solstice Gathering here in Spirit House last Saturday.
> 
> And if you are interested in MORE poetry……I am honored and excited
> to be one of the two featured readers this Saturday, June 29th at 4:00
> pm
> 
>  at the Mendocino Art Center…..open mic to follow.
> 
> Would love to see you there!!
> 
> With love……Toni
> 
> Perspective
> 
> Under an old oak tree
> 
> we sit in the movement of branches-
> 
> our faces lit in dappled sun.
> 
> 65 years old today
> 
> you toggle between light and dark
> 
> determined to face your greatest fear -
> 
> be who you always sensed
> 
> yourself to be.
> 
> You, who remembers
> 
> the boy still alive inside you, toes filled
> 
> with mud, knee high in the marsh
> 
> of the San Joaquin river,
> 
> feather in your hand, lavender fog
> 
> in your yellow hair,
> 
> dreaming of deep diving treasure hunt adventures -
> 
> baiting your hook in the promise of life
> 
> without ever considering the failures
> 
> awaiting you.
> 
> You understood the language of clouds,
> 
> the wisdom of driftwood, how to navigate by the stars,
> 
> and find the the hidden places where moss and mushrooms grew.
> 
> Without knowing
> 
> you were already bending
> 
> with the pull of the moon
> 
> adjusting to the tides of expectations
> 
> turning within you.
> 
> Now you arrive here
> 
> having lost everything you worked for
> 
> to face the meaning of your existence,
> 
> using your time now
> 
> to know who you are,
> 
> to reflect back into the pond of your life,
> 
> to learn about forgiveness,
> 
> and how useless it is
> 
> to resist anything, defend or hide.
> 
> Today, you remember your ancestors….
> 
> You are the great grandfather now!
> 
> You shake your head with wonder
> 
> at all you survived.
> 
> Wisps of silver hair
> 
> float in the grateful breeze
> 
> for the blessings of family and friends,
> 
> and the richness in life.
> 
> In this wholehearted nakedness
> 
> of what was nearly forgotten
> 
> you reclaim your birthright
> 
> to grow in love, no matter what -
> 
> to let the past advise
> 
> but no longer define you.
> 
> It’s just as you suspected.
> 
> It was never what you were told.
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