[Thespiritexpress] Poem read at the Solstice Gathering

[roz at mcn.org]

On 2024-06-24 10:32 pm, Toni Bernbaum via Thespiritexpress wrote:

Oh, Toni! This is so beautiful and evocative!! Thanks for sharing this 
and posting this again, it brings tears the more I read it!

Love, Roz



> 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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