Susan Auld wrote this informative poem about life’s busyness in the digital age. Time challenges me daily and it is hard to keep pace and leave comments that are deep enough to celebrate the wonderful blogs I follow.
I try living in the moment as the poem suggests. This is a great challenge, but the idea is meditation is the practice we need for life to be lived fully. It is in life that we need to be present. As I rise from the meditation, I hope to do so with a clearer mind and catch a glimpse, now and then, of the rose opening. Even an occasional glimpse rewards me with the universe’s miracles.
how can I be in the present
when I need two hands to twitter and tweet
when world events are everywhere all the time
above below under inside outside
slithering through
ear buds flat screens cell phones
and I miss the exact second the rose
opens its red lips or the dramatic entrance
of the lilac’s perfume as it catches a ride
on the back of a spring breeze
and floats through my open window
how can I listen to my breath
move in move out move in move out
through the rumbles of cement trucks
bells and whistles of garbage trucks
siren songs ring tones doorbells
computer music and twitches
how can I possibly be
in the moment
when the world is so
in my face
in my ears
in my rooms
in my yard
swallowing this
moment and
the next and next and next…
how in this world do I let go
of all the cacophonous chaos
practice practice practice
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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 
This reminds me, the honeysuckle buds are getting ready to pop open. I need to be outside on my back steps breathing in this aroma as I look up at the stars and dream. Thank you!
You are welcome. There is always a reminder in poetry for us to engage in the world fully.
Beautiful Ivon, thanks.
You are welcome David.
I liked this very much, Ivon! Good reminder! Practice zen and try to put aside technology and the noises around you!
When I began setting aside time without technology, I found it easier to do this in unplanned and daily ways.
Excellent Ivon, thanks a lot for this! Jenny
Thank you Jenny and you are welcome.
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Reblogged this on aksharaalu – Best Collections and commented:
cacophonous chaos
cacophonous chaos…………….beautifully narrated plights of digital life
with regards
I find we have to make that extra effort to realize the busyness, noise, and pace of the world.
your sir is correct
with regards
This is amazing, and I’ve saved it so I can print it off. It is worth remembering. Thank you for sharing this Ivon. It’s wonderful. Blessings, Gina
Thank you Gina and you are welcome. I am glad you found it so moving.
Excellent poem! And makes such a good point! 🙂
Thank you for taking the time, stopping, and commenting today Suzy. It is appreciated.
*sigh* I’ve been working on my Zen also and this puts me in a good place. 😉
In a busy world, setting things aside and just being are very difficult. I think working on it might be enough.
I love this poem. I think I need to print it out and put it where I’ll read it daily!
Life is all about practice.
Imagine how our students feel. They were born into this tweeting twittering world and know nothing else. I feel that our next movement needs to be toward teaching our young ones to slow down and appreciate nature and silence. The world would be a better place……. Love how the poem captures today’s culture!
I agree with the idea we need to find ways to help our children and grandchildren slow down and unshackle themselves. Thank you for great insight into the challenges our students face today, largely without knowing they exist.
oh, this so captures how i feel! thank you for sharing. aleya