Mary Oliver has a magical way of writing. There is a simplicity in her writing that is moving and stirring. It always gently reminds us that we are not alone even when we are alone. We are part of a larger complex called humanity which has many common shared loves and pains. When we pause, even for a moment, we get a sense of this largesse.
I want to write something
so simply
about love
or about pain
that even
as you are reading
you feel it
and as you read
you keep feeling it
and though it be my story
it will be common,
though it be singular
it will be known to you
so that by the end
you will think—
no, you will realize—
that it was all the while
yourself arranging the words,
that it was all the time
words that you yourself,
out of your heart
had been saying.
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 
How often do we experience this commonality I wonder? It conflicts with the knowledge that we are unique, but I feel that we are unique in our particulars while at the same time we are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow in our commonality. The ages don’t seem to alter the ways in which we are alike. Thank you for your insight..
Marie, that is profoundly said. We are unique in our particulars and are drawn together by something larger than we are. You are most welcome and thank you for your insight.
Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets. This poem shows her altruism and modesty.
My memoir on grief, Mourning Has Broken has a quote by her: “I look upon time as no more than an idea, and I consider eternity as another possibility.”
She is truly a gifted poet who finds ways to make words make sense for each us in unique ways. Thank you for a lovely comment Carol.
You’re welcome 🙂
Thank you Ivon – I love how she draws the reader in to connect with love and pain and the words. Its a keeper to reflect on.
You are welcome Val. Mary Oliver is a rare poet in her ability to draw us into the words and motifs.
Oh, I really like this one and like you will be reflecting on it. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
Thank you Natalie and take care.
Hi Ivon, I also really like this…
Thank you Tina. Mary Oliver is a brilliant poet who makes it easy for me to add something.
You really said something simple but deep here. You succeed on every level. Well done.
Thank you Brenda on many levels.
so will i. beautiful poem ivon.
Thank you. I hope you do.
Love her. And when someone tells me that something I’ve written makes them think they wrote it, I am deeply honored.
She is an amazing poet.