Subject: Writing Process

Posted by Tim Lucas on 4/10/2004
In Reply To:Writing Process Posted by Bill Rathborne on 4/9/2004

Message:

Below is the poem I mentioned. After a group spends time together stuggling with a systems model or attempting to determine the converters or best labels for flows - you learn quite abit about each other. After working with collaborative teams of teachers, students, administrators, community members (clergy, police, business owners), and parents exploring a school-based crisis or community issue - this poem takes on a special meaning. The sharing and reflective thoughts of the group as we talk about Stafford's words are often very moving and heartfelt. They are 'awake people' and they see that these tools build relationships.

Good thoughts - Tim



A Ritual to Read to Each Other

If you don't know the kind of person I am,
and I don't know the kind of person you are,
a pattern that others made may prevail in the world,
and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.

For there is many a small betrayal in the mind,
a shrug that lets the fragile sequence break,
sending with shouts, the horrible errors of childhood,
storming out to play through the broken dike.

And as elephants parade holding each elephant's tail,
but if one wanders the circus won't find the park,
I call it cruel and maybe the root of cruelty
to know what occurs, but not recognize the fact.

And so I appeal to a voice, to something shadowy,
a remote important region in all who talk;
though we could fool each other, we should consider -
lest the parade of our mutual life get lost in the dark.

For it is important that awake people be awake,
or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;
the signals we give - yes or no, or maybe -
should be clear; the darkness around us is deep.

by William Stafford
American poet 1914 -1993