Recipes for life: Poems from an Oxford Summer, 2008

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Background
A good marriage
The Perfect Lesson
Friendship
Recipe for Oxford Scholars handed down for many generations
Love mix

Background

The poems were written during a course delivered by Jane Spiro in Exeter College, Oxford, UK.

A good marriage

Sprinkle your wishes
Over future plans.
Blend your feelings together.
Squeeze his heart and pocket.
Mix honesty, faithfulness and friendship.
Serve yourself warm.

Carla Canoza, Juan Allauca (Peru)

The Perfect Lesson

Mix together a group of young students.
Pour in a considerable amount of joy and humour.
Gently add the teaching input.
Slice challenging tasks
In order to make things edible and digestible.
Let it cook half an hour
and stir occasionally
until portions are ready to be served.
Garnish the dish with happy faces and successful results.
Once you are satisfied
Do it again and make sure you don’t overcook.

Anne Andersen (Denmark) and Juanjo Lalupu (Peru)

Friendship

Take a cup of listening ears.
Mix with some unconditional support.
Blend in a spoonful of shared experiences
and, after a silent embrace,
leave to stand.
Bake for ten minutes,
then take it gently out
and sprinkle with loving words.

Thongthip Varnaying (Thailand) and M. Carmen Gomiz (Spain)

Recipe for Oxford Scholars handed down for many generations

Squeeze several monastical students and let them sizzle.
Stir in generous funds for spectacular buildings.
Add in stern fellows.
Then separate into competitive colleges.
Pour into a square mold and bake for 8 centuries.
ensuring superiority to other competitors.
Ice in a luscious green shade.
Avoid blending feminine elements to preserve the true essence.

Kumi Tommerbakke (Norway) and Imma Cristina (Spain)

Love mix

Slice one or two spoonfuls of kindness and thoughtfulness.
Blend them in a bowl of tolerance.
Give this mixture plenty of time to rest.
Pour it into a non-stick pan
and cover with a thick layer of honesty.
Bake in an oven of warmth and humour.
When ready add a pinch of provocation.
Remove any trace of selfishness.
Let it cool
but never allow it to go cold.

Pola Mellado (Peru) and Nemesia Cutillas (Spain)

Please check the Creative Methodology for the Classroom course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Teaching Advanced Students course at Pilgrims website.