Hello everyone - I don't know if this is a repeat - think I hit the wrong
button and my message disappeared. Am trying again!
My name is Pam and I have taught high school art at a school for learning
disabilities for many years in Maryland. These years' experience have seemed
of small consolation when confronted with the evils of yesterdays'
distruction and taking of life.
It has helped to read your reactions, especially the references to
prayer. I would like to contribute a prayer that I found in a recent book
entitled, "Prayers for a Thousand Years", subtitled "Blessings and
Expressions of Hope for the New Millenium". It spoke to my artists' heart
and I thought that in addition to giving comfort with the beautiful imagery
and thoughts, it might generate some ideas for use of poetry with art.
Fittingly, it was written by an author from New York, Diane Ackerman. Here
goes:
In the name of the daybreak
and the eyelids of morning
and the wayfaring moon
and the night when it departs,
I swear I will not dishonor
my soul with hatred,
but offer myself humbly
as a guardian of nature,
as a healer of misery,
as a messanger of wonder,
as an architect of peace.
In the name of the sun and its mirrors
and the day that embraces it
and the cloud veils drawn over it
and the uttermost night
and the male and the female
and the plants bursting with seed
and the crowning seasons
of the firefly and the apple,
I will honor all life -
wherever and in whatever form
it may dwell --on Earth my home,
and in the mansions of the stars.
The affirmation of life is an antidote to death - and the art
expressions we can allow our students to create will help them. Anyone know
of any good lessons for Trees of Life? Thank you, everyone, for your
presence. - Peace.
