I was professionally developed today. I am tired and struggled to find a poem that I wanted to write or post. I perused my library and found this Shel Silverstein poem. I wonder if I had shown up with a dirty face if I could have answered with such wonderful words? And, when I got to the last line, would someone scold me? Oh, do I need to find out? Is it just that teachers just want to have fun?
Where did you get such a dirty face,
My darling dirty-faced child?
I got it from crawling along in the dirt
And biting two buttons off Jeremy’s shirt.
I got it from chewing the roots of a rose
And digging for clams in the yard with my nose.
I got it from peeking into a dark cave
And painting myself like a Navajo brave.
I got it from playing with coal in the bin
And signing my name in cement with my chin.
I got if from rolling around on the rug
And giving the horrible dog a big hug.
I got it from finding a lost silver mine
And eating sweet blackberries right off the vine.
I got it from ice cream and wrestling and tears
And from having more fun than you’ve had in years.
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 read all your posts with enjoyment, Ivon, but can’t find a “Like” button when you reblog someone else’s poem or words. Not sure how this works – am I looking in the wrong place?
No, it appears when we re-blog that there is not a like button. There are two ways to like it. One is to follow the link to the original blog which creates traffic to that blog. The other is to like on the reader.
I appreciate your comments and likes and thank you for them Victoria.
Wonderful poem, wonderful sharing. Thanks aboundingly! Tasha
Thank you and you are welcome Tasha.
I am so glad you found it to post!
Wonderful….
)0(
ladyblue
Thank you.
I love Shel’s stuff. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
You are welcome Elizabeth.
Fun poem. That line sure comes out of nowhere and zings…
Russ
Thank you Russ. Shel Silverstein had a way of creating fun and making statements at the same time.
Reblogged this on lost creek publishing.
This is so good! Playful..
It is a fun poem that invites us to play.
Made me smile 🙂
I am glad it brought joy to you. Shel Silverstein’s poetry always brings a smile and chuckle to me.
There is no doubt that one of the joys of teaching is remembering the delight of being a child. And there’s also no doubt that educators with your commitment may not have enough time in their day to escape to those delights. I hope you find some time to play this weekend Ivon.
I always do and more so when the weather improves. It has. Thank you Mimi and have a great weekend.
always good to read Shel Silverstein
Yes, he brings a message into the life with his wonderful humour.
Ah ..the joys and delightfulness of being a child that ultimately completes the journey of a teacher..:)
It does. It truly, truly does.
I pay a quick visit every day some websites and sites to read articles or reviews, but this weblog provides quality based content.
Thank you.
Hello
Thanks for the post. My son chose this poem to present at a school contest. Do you know if it was published in a book? Which one?
Thank you.
I am not sure which book I got it from. It can be found on the Internet at site such as Poetry Foundation. Google Shel Silverstein and the poem and you might find the book.