Kay Ryan wrote this deeply spiritual and moving poem. It has a Zen, mystical quality. I am sure there is Something or Someone holding everything together. When something disrupts the ocean of universal consciousness and it goes a little off course or yaws, we feel only the slightest pull. A larger energy field absorbs the drops and warps. The adjustments occur in ways so we are not tested beyond our limits and find a path to walk.
Imagine a surface
so still and vast
that it could test
exactly what
it set in motion
when a single stone
is cast into its ocean.
Possessed of a calm
so far superior
to people’s, it alone
could be assessed
ideally irascible.
In such a case,
if ripples yawed
or circles wobbled
in their orbits
like spun plates
it would be the law
and not so personal
that what drops warps
what warps dissipates.
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
Teacher as Transformer 
I also commend to you her “Niagara River” http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20196
Thank you.
This was lovely and I liked the way you introduced it. I am a believer of a universal God and like it when the poetry and imagery is inclusive of all. This is such a nice unifying, yet explanation of how big is your God?!
That is a wonderful way to understand it. I find my spirituality has matured over the years and it is helpful.
Kay Ryan ,truly unique poet.His words spring from the depth of our humanity limits.Thank you so much for liking my post (Accolades Awards…) Have a blessed day.jalal
You are welcome Jalal. Thank you for stopping and commenting. I was not familiar with this poem before. it was fun to read and re-read.
This is indeed a beautiful poem, it’s tranquil very ‘zen’ as you said. I wanted to stop by and say “Thanks!” for liking a recent post of mine, didn’t see an ‘About’ tab and it’s good I didn’t. I really appreciate likes in general and comments. It let’s one know that you’re not writing to for an empty room so-to-speak. God bless, do stop by again and I can’t leave without saying, teachers are among my favorite human-beings. I’ve been blessed to have teachers of various sorts all my life. I have a feeling you’re a good one. 🙂
Blessings,
Rebecca
I agree. I like to know others are interested in some fashion. Thank you for stopping and the wonderful comment Rebecca.
My pleasure! 🙂
There is deep philosophy in this poem, makes you think.
It does. I enjoyed reading and re-reading it.
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