I was not sure I would post tonight, but as I read comments left on don’t worry, be happy I came across one from Valerie. Valerie suggested a poem by G. K. Chesterton. We regard the donkey as a beast of burden, but it serves a literal and figurative purpose in the Christian world and perhaps beyond.
Literally, the donkey, that simple beast of burden, carried Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. This simple animal symbolically in the Middle East of Jesus’ time was an animal of peace. Today, figuratively we recall Jesus used this beast of burden as his mode of transport elevating it.
When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
On all four-footed things.
The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.
Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.
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 
I dig the contradictory states you introduce; itthe monster evokes the Jabberwock from a different angle, for me, meets a little Poe…who might be a little cold, too. Super sentences.
sorry about that typo ^^ up there…:(
No problem; thank you for the comment.
How lovely that you posted this, Ivon… it used to make me weep when I was a little girl reading this
I am grateful you made the suggestion. It is the time of the year. My mother has always said Easter is the most important Christian celebration of the year.
I Nominate you for the prestigious Hug Award – Hope Unites Globally
Please accept & oblige.
Important:
Please read the instructions carefully in the link provided
on the awards page and follow suit
http://ajaytao2010.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/the-hug-award-hope-unites-globally/
Thank you Ajaytao. It is greatly appreciated.
thanks sir
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I’ve always loved this poem Ivon, but it’s been years since I’ve read it. Thanks for sharing it and reminding me its there for all of us. 🙂
I am glad you enjoyed it Elizabeth.
Beautiful poem….which was affecting in a nice kind of sad…..gentle Jesus on a humble donkey. Thank you Valerie for sharing it and Ivon for posting it…..best wishes to all from Brisbane, Australia!
Thank you Lynne. And best wishes to Brisbane.
The donkey is noble because he knows his purpose. great parable! 😀
Thank you.