I am not sure whether the Poetry contest is still open, and I know that the following poem does not fit the prescribed form... Be that as it may, I thought everybody would enjoy.... It was sent by Elwin and Mark -- friends, some time Peace Corps, and now working on contract in Bosnia. I have suggested that they might want to join us here on the Listserve.
Harrison Thought you might enjoy a poem written by a "crusty" older man who serves on the board of directors for one of the 20 Bosnian NGOs that participated in the OST that Mark and I facilitated in March. This was another back-to-back OST program (two OSTs in the same week with one day of my stand up comedy/training in the middle for both groups) impacting 175 Bosnian NGO leaders. The poem was read to all participants at a spontaneously self-developed dance and skit party the night before OST closed. I think you'll agree that the party and this poem says it all! What a wonderful success. thanks to you both. Peace and best wishes, Elwin Guild > From: "Mark Nachtrieb" <[email protected]> > To: "Guild, Elwin & Joan" <[email protected]> > Subject: Oda Ticeru (The Ode to the Teacher) > "I do not ring the bells, I am asking them to > proclaim to me" Buddha > > "It is not important who is the teacher, what is > important is how much > knowledge do the pupils absorb" Taghora > > > Dear teacher Elwin, > You gathered the pupils from all sides, > From Una till Drina, > All seeking knowledge, > Sitting on the chairs, > Waiting carefully to learn something. > Then Elwin says, "You will learn by yourselves, > I am going to swim; the sun is calling me." > > That is a new system, very efficient. > You are asking How? > It is simply easy! > You will work hard by yourselves! > > An the starts the rush, > First day, second day ... > Third day I didn't eat, > Agenda, schedules, issues ... > No food served, just sweat and tears. > > The conclusion was almost the same, > "It's not easy to be a teacher for so big a list, > Let the pupils sweat by themselves, > Then they will more appreciate their knowledge." > > Elwin is contentedly rubbing his hands, > He did his job without a lot of suffering. > Effect is the same, maybe even better, bigger. > If he was lecturing, we could lay down, > and napping quietly > He would ring uselessly, even loud, > His ringing wouldn't even touch us. Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, MD 20854 USA phone 301-469-9269 fax 301-983-9314 website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh Open Space Institute websites www.openspaceworld.org
