I Dwell in Possibility

Emily Dickinson wrote this beautiful poem. With questions, I dwell in possibility. Poetry calls gently to me, leaves a space that I can peer into, and observe that which moves my soul. Without questions, there would be no answers and no certainty. That seems odd and paradoxical, but seems very real to me. Questions allow me real faith and a belief in those things I cannot touch. They are there and I know they are.

I dwell in Possibility–
A fairer House than Prose–
More numerous of Windows–
Superior–for Doors–

Of Chambers as the Cedars–
Impregnable of Eye–
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky–

Of Visitors–the fairest–
For Occupation–This–
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise–

Unknown's avatar

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

15 responses »

  1. reflectionsonlifethusfar's avatar reflectionsonlifethusfar

    Lovely poem by Emily Dickinson. I always enjoy her poetry. I’m with you on the questions providing you with faith. Having all the answers can feel contrived when it comes to the untouchable and invisible.

    Reply
  2. This is very beautiful. The words, “poetry calls to me,” reminded me of you and your lovely poems.

    Reply
    • Poets I have spoken to or read speak about the words and imagery calling to them. I think it is what sets it aside from prose, although writers such as Paolo Coehlo have a way of infusing their prose with poetry.

      Reply
  3. Bette A. Stevens's avatar Bette A. Stevens

    Thanks for the share… Emily knows her words!

    Reply
  4. Bette A. Stevens's avatar Bette A. Stevens

    One of my favorites of hers goes something like this:

    Hope is a thing with feathers
    That perches on the soul
    It sings a song without the words
    and never stops at all.

    I simply love the imagery; Yes Emily knows her words!

    Reply
  5. Pingback: Poetry Beckons « Teacher as Transformer

Leave a reply to The Other Side of Ugly Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.