By Roger Desmarais:
There is a lovely wisdom contained in old phrases about life created by the elderly who have lived much of their lives and found much to be wanting—but also found much to be gained by searching and always being open to new beginnings and surprise presents in what is presented. Shared, sometimes, in rare and precious words of wisdom gleaned from the environment and translated into a life worth living. It is good to revisit such wisdom in the denouement of our own lives and worlds by listening to the sound bites of gentle wisdom that do not come from our cell phones or iPads but from the hearts of our loved ones.
Blessings arise from such unexpected sources
Such sources produce such unexpected beauty
That sometimes the wisdom moment is lost in translation
Caught short in the humor of the phrase
Relinquishing its value to the moment of ease
Or missed completely in the profoundness of insight.
My paternal grandfather in an agrarian society
Living with us in a three generational family
Found in the growing and harvesting of crops
A Divine Intelligence operative in the sundial
Telling time by the sun shadow or moon position
Loving the galaxies beyond naming or history
Caught up in the beauty of revelation
Teaching me a deeper meaning than the flowering
Touching in me the springs of flowing wisdom
Deep in my child's being
Pre-cognitive to the ultimate evolution of my soul.
His phrase of insight and commitment to living a full life
Flowing from his heart in a French melody
Left its indelible mark on my childhood's mind and heart
Helped form my adolescent attitude and commitment
Followed me in 'absentia' into my maturing adulthood
Still inspiring my elder-hood with determination to evolve—
His phrase of profound guidance and support in translation:
"IN all this 'horse-manure,' there was to be a Pony."
He lived his mantra with dignity and courage.
I am sure he found his pony in many way in life.
My Grandfather saw the beauty in the ravishing storms
Even as they pummeled the crops and destroyed the fields
He found his Divinity in helping birth the breeched calf
He discovered Divine Intelligence in the rhythm of the seasons
He found his pony as he laid his dear dog to rest
He learned the language of salvation in saving others
He understood the wisdom of the "Pony" in the normal
There was always a Phoenix in the ashes of life around him.
I believe I was one of those "Ponies" even as I left home.
Now, I continue my search for the pony in my life
Not just in the ashes of seeming failure and loss
But also in the sweet smell of success and gain
Rainbows speak to me of his presence in my life
The little hummingbird was a favorite divine touch
The animals in his farm life spoke to him of gratitude
He was the original "horse-whisperer" to one and all
And I was one of the fortunate little ponies in his life.
So, now, I pay homage ot my grandfather in my pilgrimage
Finding and riding my pony through sunrise and sunsets
To love what was given and return what was received.
I have rejoiced in my ponies in my life of discovery
I look forward to any and all new discoveries of growing old
I want to be like my grandfather and my father's lineage
Another "pony" searcher in this land of milk and honey.
Dr. Roger Desmarais has written poetry on his experiences as a consultant to executives and their executive teams as a way to more easily connect with the Emotional Intelligent part of the total leader. This has also opened the opportunity to write poetry to define the Spiritual Intelligence that is the foundation for Ethical and Responsible Leadership—which is a growing request. His recently published book of corporate poetry taps the three intelligences: Intellectual, Spiritual, and Emotional: “Disruptive Poetry: Upsetting the Perfect Corporate Status Quo.”