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