I was not sure I had a poem today. It is a bit hectic with parent-teacher interviews, but this morning I had an email waiting and saw a path. I am not sure about the title, but here goes.
The last few days I have watched a friend struggle with being involved in something she is very passionate about. As I watch, I see her struggling. Her contributions are simply expected and thus unappreciated. Often, I think, we feel this way and believe we are alone in our struggles. Me experience points to another truth. We need to look up and across, open our minds and hearts and discover there are others who we can lean on.
Stranded–
Alone on an iceberg
Look around;
Look up;
Open your eyes–
Recognize others with you
Share stories–
Pearls of wisdom
In those oyster shells–
Found in deepest waters.
Experiences fully lived–
Reflect on them
Open heroic hearts;
Extend welcoming arms;
Proffer capable hands;
Share construction–
Bridge open water,
Calm perilous seas–
You are not alone
Others await your company.
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.
Teacher as Transformer 
this is so wonderful!! I especially like :
Extend welcoming arms;
Proffer capable hands;
Share construction–
Bridge open water,
Calm perilous seas–
You are not alone
Others await your company.
Thank you Len.
Sometimes, it is very difficult not to feel alone. It is very difficult to feel past disappointment and expectation. But, we must. if we are to keep our souls intact. Lovely poem, as usual.
It is. It takes quiet to find our way through the maze. Thank you.
Beautiful in its inspiration. We are indeed never alone. This planet is filled with loving souls — we just have to open our hearts, overcome our fears, and let them touch us…
Absolutely we are never without company. After I posted, I ran into her and we chatted. She seemed more at ease with things.
Haha – I had a professor once who could hardly believe I used the verb “proffer.” He thought it archaic and wonderful! I’ll pass that compliment on to you, Ivon.
Thank you. I wanted a word that stood out and accomplished that.
nothing hurts more than the situation when your labour is taken for granted i guess!
very beautiful poem.
Yes, I talked to the friend after I posted and she seemed happier. I think reaching out to her helped a bit. Thank you.
Excellent Inspirational.
Thank you Lvsrao.
This spoke to me as well as settled me
I can not wait till my 10 day silent retreat to learn new tools
Thanks Ivon
Eunice
You are welcome Eunice.
🙂
Thank you Ivon, this is a beautiful poem. I guess it’s one reason so many people blog. We are encouraged when we have others who enjoy what we offer. Blessings, Marsha 🙂
I have grown to enjoy that part of it. Each morning I find so many good posts. It is almost overload.
Take care.
Ivon
I hear you there. It is overload, and I’m not doing nearly as much in real time as you are! I don’t know how you do it! Marsha 🙂
It is part of a new creative space I am carving out.
Good for you. I tend to write more poetry when I’m sad, and I have a whole book of it, but I’m not sad right now. 🙂
I try to work with all my emotions. What poetry has done is allowed me to find a creative space that allows me to work more effectively with my emotions.
Good for you. 🙂 One more thing to admire. Blogging everyday means that I write when I am happy which is most of the time. That is much healthier than just writing when I’m sad. For a while, when I was writing poetry I experimented with different styles of poetry, including some structured poems. That was really interesting. I had a few published.
Thank you.
My pleasure. 🙂
I really like this one, Ivon. Especially the last two lines. A powerful and wise message in few words!
Russ