Kathy and I head to Phoenix tomorrow. The contrast in weather is sharp. It is -60 C with lots of snow here and +280 C in Phoenix, but apparently they are ‘suffering’ through a heat wave. I considered a poem about a phoenix rising from ashes, but opted for one that percolated for a while.
I began to think about this topic as we wrote life metaphors. There is no shortage of ways of seeing life, but a constant theme, for me, is a journey. I voyage into the unknown, but I still see what slowly disappears around river bends or as the river drops. There is no preset map, but it is the letting go of certainty that I welcome.
A journey from headwaters
Self-discovery;
Always seek the hidden
Evident truths.
Turbulent rapids
Still waters;
A visible contrast
An invisible path.
Fight the currents
Chaos gives way;
Languish in mysterious pools–
Life`s depth revealed.
New, unknown shorelines–
Welcome them;
Familiar sights fade, yet remain;
Both are navigational instruments.
Safe passage
Without false certainty;
Sets life`s course–
The course of a life well-lived.
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 
I’d gladly take a heat wave. 🙂 Wonderful poem.
Thank you Stephany.
This is simply outstanding ! It is amazing to see how you delve deep into soulful thoughts and create such meeaningful verses which strike a chord with your readers,Someday..I would like to reblog this ..you truly are a creative genius..
Thank you Swati. I appreciate the kind words and the affirmation.
Safe trip. Poem is great.
Thank you Jody
Whoops I think I used the wrong name. Sorry Kim.
What a great course to set 🙂
Thank you Jody.
Good words to live by. And don’t worry it’s a “dry heat”! 🙂
Yes it is Eric. That is like our dry cold. Although, I must admit the humidity on the East Coast is oppressive so dry heat or cold is good.
Too bad we can’t share & do some give & take between hot & cold weather.
Happy travels!
I agree. Apparently Arizona is having unseasonably warm weather and our winter is extending into spring. If we could just have a little trade off.
Thank you.
So many of s miss the headwaters, and end up swirling in the wrong directions. Happy travels, Ivon!
Thank you Melody.
Wonderful poem Ivon, you will love the weather here right now. Saturday and Sunday are going to be right around 80 degrees and bright sunshine. Very, very nice. Travel safe and enjoy your time here.
Thank you Dom on each point. I have been keeping tabs on the weather and am looking forward to the break from snow and cold.
Bonjour Yvon! 🙂 Oui, notre vie ressemble parfois à un fleuve…
As-tu vu le film-culte(ici!) “La vie est un long fleuve tranquille”?… 🙂
– – –
Have a great weekend! Amitiés toulousaines… 🙂
Merci Melanie. Non, je n’ai pas vu cet film.
I will take a few minutes to watch it.
This is a very timely post for me. I’ve just been looking at “imaginative maps” – wondering if that is a path worth following. It’s a new idea for me, and your words have put a bit more flesh on it.
I am glad you found the words helpful. A book I just finished is Margaret Wheatley’s So Far From Home. She has used the analogy of maps in other books, but shifted to ones that we create in the midst of our journey.
Safe travels and enjoy the flow..Your poem reflects the movement of our days..
Thank you Mimi.
I really like and appreciate the last sentence! Ann
Thank you Ann. The comment is appreciated.
A wonderful poem. Have a great time in Phoenix. I was there in Aug. last year and enjoyed myself. Hope you get a chance to go to the Grand Canyon and Sedona.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
We did last year Francine. It was beautiful. There was a bit of snow left in the canyon in spots. It must have been very warm in August.
Very nice poem I enjoy your thoughts on life.
Thank you Shimon. It is nice to hear from you again.
A well-lived life indeed. Thank you for the poem, Ivon. I like it.
Russ
Thank you Russ.
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Beautiful poem.
Life is a river in the sense that a river is so easily compared to Life.
A river is like life because it flows, and life as that of the flow of river.,
Life can be smooth, rocky, or wavy, it has many interesting things, it has different moods depending on what happened that day.
Well said Lvsrao. The metaphor works so well for us. I love the closing part of your comment with the personification of the river with moods.
I moved to the Phoenix area two months ago and am enjoying the so-called heat wave. I’ve been told that happens in July and August. Hope you enjoy your trip.
I could not imagine being here during the summer months. It would be so hot. This is very nice so far and I think we have nice weather for the whole stay.