[Thespiritexpress] Poem read at the Solstice Gathering

[dbaker at mcn.org]

Whoops!  I meant the open mic on Saturday the 29th!
See you then!
Devreaux



On 2024-06-25 8:35 am, Devreaux via Thespiritexpress wrote:
> 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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> 
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