The Lotus Club

by Michele Fry © 2000

The lotus is a special flower
that bears much contemplation.
Orientals see it as
the symbol for Creation


.How ‘bout we choose the lotus as
the symbol of true friendship,
Inviting to “The Lotus Club”
all those who share this kinship:

Who, floating on the pond of life,
with petals slow unfolding,
We gather up as much of light
each day as we can hold, and


With anchored center rising wisely
always towards its goal,
When petals finally open wide,
‘twill display inner gold.


And waft the sweetest fragrance out
to all who paddle through,

Inspiring the rest of us
to make Art of all we do.

Our Motto:  BE ART!

A Teacher's Manifesto

By Michele T. Fry, ã February 1991

An autobiographical poem: I owned, operated and taught in my own Montessori school for 27 years. 
This is the understanding I came to have of what I was teaching. 

 

This school is My Church,

and I am the Pastor of this holy place.

 

This is My Spot on Earth in which to be effective,

the only place on Earth over which I have Dominion.

 

Conceived in Love.

 

Whose Divine Purpose it is

to glorify the Human Spirit

and discipline the mind and body to it’s Will.

 

To be a Friend.

 

To Teach each of my Pupils

the Natural Laws that govern Every Thing;

to tune them in to the Diversity of Truth

and the Vastness of the Universe;

to free them from the Darkness of Superstition;

from Mistrust and Fear of fellow humans;

And to trust Themselves;

to teach the holy art of Gratitude

and celebrate with them the Blessings Of Our Age;

to cultivate that holy mix of

Humility, Personal Power, Empathy and Joy

which resurrects the soul

and frees the heart to feel Compassionate toward Self and Others.

 

To guide them to such discoveries

that they may reach whatever Heights they may aspire to;

take responsibility for the Depths that they explore;

add to the Beauty of this world;

reduce Suffering;

increase Pleasure;

triumph over Adversity and help others do the same;

see the Connectedness of all things;

accept Aloneness and the Great Unknown;

Forgive;

and wherever they are in the vast millieu of Life,

to dance in gratitude with a song on their lips

whose lyrics are simply, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

 

And in the end,

to have each of my pupils come to know

and to Enjoy

the God within Themselves,

and Everything,

and Everyone.

Beware Icarian Friends I and II

© 1991

I - Beware Icarian Friends

For a moment I thought I'd fly into the Sun.
My friends said "Do it! Why not? Have fun!
You're adult, and you're free. You've a right to explore
what you want. Who you are. There are no holds barred.
So do you thing then let us know how good it was.
You deserve it. Don't fret what the World thinks or does.

Some of you waxed my wings. Some held me high
as drunk with excitement I rose to the sky.
My desire was focused on radiant Sunlight,
seeing the rapture I held as my Right.

By coincidence, then, I saw a blind flash,
heard blood-curdling screams of another's Sun crash.
That writhing hot agony was horrid to see.
I thought "OH MY GOD, OH GOD! That could have been me.
I fell from my fantasy, shaken withall.
No friend had warned of Icarian falls!

I could have lost everything I care about!
What fiend was it urged me to follow that route?
I wondered if my friends had all wished me ill,
or if they're just careless, or run-of-the-mill.
Where was their concern when I lost my cool head?
My reason was fuddled. "Follow it", they'd said.
One said "I was joking, and all I was doing
was helping you relish a mood you were brewing!"

II - Icarian Friends Beward

Well, hear now! I pick friends for reasoning so fine
It stands up beside me when I have lost mine!
What kind of friend were you? What kind will you be?
And what kind of friendship can you get from me?
Be sure, if my loved one should head for the Sun
they'd hear words from me of the risk that they run.
I may let their wings singe with some minor burning,
but not risk a charring death, even for learning.

There are all sorts of danger this could apply to, but this one relates to a friend of mine experimenting with drugs and me wrestling with what role I should play in cautioning him, and how he should appreciate my friendship for caring enough to confront him.