To begin the day in a quieter, peaceful, and wiser place, I meditate each morning. .Elizabeth Myhr commented about creativity in her writing. She “does not jump into creativity. Creativity bumps into her on its way through the world.” As I sat, I realized I was writing poetry in my mind. Words, phrases, and images were floating in a stream. I recognized I felt calmer and quieter in those moments.
Francesca Zelnick offered advice in a recent post. She suggested, when ideas emerge or bump up against me as I move through life, write them down. I did and edited later. Here is the product.
Sit quietly,
5:30
AM.
Can’t sleep
wait
listen
pay attention
be patient
meditate
contemplate
focus on breath.
Gently return
to a quiet space
solitude
like a river
single words
phrases form
metaphors arise
images appear
in the current.
Discover a gentle smile
on the corners of lips
face softens.
Fresh day
creates space
for voice
words observed
soul speaks
asks to be heard.
Tranquil,
bump into creative moment
Poetry written.
Enjoy!
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, nonviolence and its anticipatory relationship with the future, as essential elements to teaching and learning.
Academic publications can be found at Ivon Gile Prefontaine on ResearchGate
Very peaceful feel…
It is.
Good morning Ivon. Thank you for this. I really did enjoy it. Meditation provides a richly blessed space. I’m sure that Francesca’s great gift “flows” out of her own meditation / contemplation. Perhaps “in spirit” you could join our parish meditation later this month?timeanddate.com can help sort out the time difference between us. “Discover a gentle smile / on the corners of lips / face softens” … lovely. I think you’ll have a great day.
http://www.bramhallcofe.org/Parish/Monday_Meditation_18_June.html
Thank you and I can join you in spirit.