I sat in SeaTac airport in Seattle for about 6 hours and had much time to reflect. The result was a number of poems. This one wrote itself based on a wonderful conversation about the need for leadership to allow the disallowable into the circle. We each have gifts to offer. It takes patience and a new conversation to welcome others into our tight little circles. In the end, we share a little of each other and there is more the same than different in all likelihood.
Patience–
We need it to converse fully;
A new conversation
One that allows the disallowable.
‘Intelligence’ prevails–
Facts and knowledge
Supplant heart’s courage–
Wisdom;
Common sense.
What seems obvious now
Was all along
We pause briefly
Just long enough
Observe–
Awaken, listen deeply.
Welcome that which is different
Invite him or her forward
Complete the circle–
Another piece of peace.
Each unique view fills a void
Give each one voice
Herald it with life;
It is one I do not have
I cannot have
It belongs to someone else
Yet, to me, as well.
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
Teacher as Transformer 
Truly beautiful.
Thank you for the kind words.
a very sweet poem
Thank you Shimon. I am glad you enjoyed it.
This is a lovely, deeply meaningful poem Ivon. I remember from my days as a leadership trainer, how we would drive home the idea that diverse cultures and attitudes also added up to interesting new views on life, and how by listening and absorbing, we could all benefit from our differences. Thank you for an uplifting verse.
You are welcome Yaz. We find meaning in diversity. We only need to look.
Patience. Yes. Need to work on this. Love your post Ivon.
Thank you David. I need to work on that part as well.
beautiful…….
Thank you for the kind word. It only takes one.
“It takes patience and a new conversation to welcome others into our tight little circles. In the end, we share a little of each other and there is more the same than different in all likelihood.” Yes, I have found this to be true!
Thank you for stepping into the circle and expanding it with your comments.