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At the New Year

Posted on January 1, 2015 by ivonprefontaine

As Kenneth Patchen wrote, “there are other bells we could ring” provides choice in living mindfully and sensitively in the world.

In the shape of this night, in the still fall
        of snow, Father
In all that is cold and tiny, these little birds
        and children
In everything that moves tonight, the trolleys
        and the lovers, Father
In the great hush of country, in the ugly noise
        of our cities
In this deep throw of stars, in those trenches
        where the dead are, Father
In all the wide land waiting, and in the liners
        out on the black water
In all that has been said bravely, in all that is
        mean anywhere in the world, Father
In all that is good and lovely, in every house
        where sham and hatred are
In the name of those who wait, in the sound
        of angry voices, Father
Before the bells ring, before this little point in time
        has rushed us on
Before this clean moment has gone, before this night
        turns to face tomorrow, Father
There is this high singing in the air
Forever this sorrowful human face in eternity’s window
And there are other bells that we would ring, Father
Other bells that we would ring.
When we explore the cracks in everything, we find the light and ring the bells we can and could.

“Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”—Leonard Cohen

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19 Comments

Posted in Community, Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Sabbath and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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.

19 responses »

  3. jmgoyder | January 1, 2015 at 2:27 am

    I love this! Happy new year to you.

    Reply
  4. David Stewart | January 1, 2015 at 3:46 am

    That’s a great poem. Happy New Year to you.

    Reply
  5. Isabella Rose Photography | January 1, 2015 at 4:42 am

    A lovely poem, and a great quote at the end. Thank you, Ivon, for the uplifting words of wisdom that you have shared throughout the past year. Happy New Year, my friend.

    Reply
  6. mimijk | January 1, 2015 at 10:02 am

    Perfect for the day – thank you Ivon for your continued inspiration. Happy New Year.

    Reply
  7. tchistorygal | January 1, 2015 at 12:22 pm

    Have a happy and wonderful New Year, Ivon. Thanks for sharing 2014 with me. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Tiny | January 2, 2015 at 1:27 am

    Happy 2015, Ivon! And thanks for all the thought-worthy and inspiring posts last year!

    Reply

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