Winter approaches. Today, was a dreary day and the trees are becoming littered on the ground as their leaves fall. Yet, as Robert Frost pointed out, there is something lovely in the barrenness of November days. This reminds me that, as fall turns to winter, of a need for the seasonal shifts that bring new life into the world. It is part of the healing process nature provides.
My Sorrow, when she’s there with me,
Thinks these dark days of autumn rain
Are beautiful as days can be;
She loves the bare, the withered tree;
She walks the sodden pasture lane.
Her pleasure will not let me stay,
She talks and I am fain to list;
She’s glad the birds have gone way.
She’s glad her simple worsted gray
Is silver now with clinging mist.
The desolate, deserted trees,
The faded earth, the heavy sky,
The beauties she so truly sees,
She thinks I have no eye for these,
And vexes me for reason why.
Not yesterday, I learned to know
The love of bare November days
Before the coming of the snow,
But it were vain to tell her so,
And they are better for her praise.
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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.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
THE GUEST IS HERE…HAVE YOU GUESSED????
If there is a finer poet than Frost (perhaps equal but not finer) than I am ignorant of such. This is a truly lovely post. And, how sentimentally appropriate for November close to the 50 year anniversary of JFKs assassination to which Frost wrote “Dedication” for his inaugural address. Thank you for this one and all the other great posts at your site. Paulette
You are most welcome Paulette. I was not aware of Frost’s connection to JFK. He had such a way of bringing words to life. Thank you for the kind comment.
November prepares us for what’s next – wintery winds and snow!
Yes, I am glad I am not at home in Edmonton. They are getting winter today in a big way.
Snow already?
Yes, they got a whole bunch in Alberta. I am not there right now, but it was the first major storm of the year and it was unpleasant. They always are.
Wow – not ready for the snow yet but it’s coming.
What a beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing it Ivon. I love the bare November days. 🙂
You are welcome Elizabeth. There is something about this time of the year between the colour of fall and the white of winter that is inspirational.
Beautiful composition.
Thank you Lvsrao.
Love the changes~
They are part of the cycle of life and nature.
Winter is an opportunity top clear the house/life to provide room for renewal and new possibilities that Spring shall bring.
It is all of that and we need to do those things.
Pristine !