It is the end of a long and busy day. I chose this poem as it explored the need to remember who we are and what we belong to, that which went before us. Stephen Spender suggested it is remembering soul’s history and listen for it in the world.
I think continually of those who were truly great.
Who, from the womb, remembered the soul’s history
Through corridors of light where the hours are suns
Endless and singing. Whose lovely ambition
Was that their lips, still touched with fire,
Should tell of the Spirit clothed from head to foot in song.
And those who hoarded from the Spring branches
The desires falling across their bodies like blossoms.
What is precious is never to forget
The essential delight of the blood drawn from ageless springs
Breaking through rocks in the worlds before our earth.
Never to deny its pleasure in the morning simple light
Nor its grave evening demand for love.
Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother
With noise and fog the flowering of the spirit.
Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields
See how these names are listed by the waving grass
And by the streamers of white cloud
And whispers of wind in the listening sky.
The names of those who in their lives fought for life
Who wore at their hearts the fire’s center.
Born of the sun they traveled a short while towards the sun,
And left the vivid air signified with their honor.
About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Beautiful. It echoes through the ages the names of spirits whose light, courage, wisdom, kindness, and warmth shined brightest of all.
Thank you for the deep comment Russ.
This is beautiful and so true! Thank you for sharing….. Peace, love, light and blessings “White Eagle” http://www.soulwritings.ca
Thank you for the kind words and you are welcome.
Hi, thanks so much for liking my post “Homemade Takeout? Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers…” and for following my blog at” http://lovelyseasonscomeandgo.wordpress.com. Your blog is awesome and so I will follow you too. Once again may you have a wonderful day. Betty
Thank you. I enjoyed my short visit earlier.
🙂
Ivon, I lost your email. I nominated you for a blog award and must send you questions. Thanks, ileneonwords@gmail.com
I am awarding you the Blog of the Year Award 2013 as an expression of my gratitude for following “The Journal of Wall Grimm” blog. You can see the post here: http://wp.me/p41c99-hx If you don’t accept awards, that’s no problem at all. Awarding you is my way to thank you and it is of no insult to me if you decline.
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing
You are welcome. Thank you for stopping and following.
Beautiful thoughts! You write so well. Thanks and cheers 🙂
Thank you and you are welcome.
Many of us have ideas but few can express them so eloquently.
Thank you Marty.
That was beautiful, thank you. ❤
You are welcome Jackie.
The last four verses are so strong ! Great work my friend,most powerful words and ideas ; your choice was absolutely brilliant ! Doda 🙂
Thank you Doda.