Snow flurries and seasonal temperatures could arrive next week. Even today, we are about 50 C above seasonal. Fall is a wonderful time with colours changing and signaling nature’s dormancy, a time of rest.
As I walked the river valley, I noticed the smell of decay. It was rich and hastened in the unusual warmth of September, but with shortened days the dampness of dew stayed as well.
I walk slowly
Absorb the valley
It touches me in many ways.
Swaths of colour
Deftly applied
By unseen master artist.
Pungent decay
Fills the air
Feeds the soil.
Leaves gently descend
Listen close
A mere whisper.
Nature’s dormancy too quietly descends
A rest time
Prepare for the next planting.
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
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Marvelous, simply marvelous Ivon! You take me to yesteryear’s sweet Caribbean dusk in the Christmas season! I love the cold, crisp air and it’s magic. Looking toward to a fall weather experience in the newness of a temperate state in my not-too-distant future. Beautiful poem indeed! Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
The cycle continues… how lovely to watch its passing, in annual progression.
It is a lovely procession of progression.
This is so lovely Ivon! I can feel your love of Autumn in your words. Thanks for the beautiful thoughts.
Thank you for the kind words Yaz.
My favourite season, the colours, smells, the gentle nostalgia, thank you Ivon…
You are welcome Valerie.
I wonderful ode to my favourite season.
Thank you for the kind comments. It is a beautiful time of the year.
I loved this poem Ivon – and the title ‘Fall’s Sabbath Song’ – a perfect beginning..
Thank you Mimi.
Took me right into the forest-great poem!
I am glad it took you for a walk.
You communicated every sense beautifully…
Thank you Sylver.
Beautiful. How lucky to experience the wonders of fall.
I am trying to make sure I see it that way this year. It feeds the creative spirit when I am fully awake to the ordinary and its extraordinary nature.
a true deep inspiration sweetened with a kiss of nature
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