Naked

Summary

The website content describes a poem titled "Naked" by Pamela Simmonds, which reflects on the emotional and personal revelations shared during a writing retreat at the Bear River Writer’s Conference in Michigan.

Abstract

The poem "Naked" by Pamela Simmonds captures the essence of vulnerability and shared human experiences at a writing retreat held in a small room typically used for children's nature studies. Over four days, participants opened up about deeply personal and often painful memories, including childhood traumas, lost loved ones, and reflections on their life journeys. The setting, a summer camp location at Walloon Lake, becomes a metaphor for the exploration of the participants' inner worlds, contrasting with the usual educational activities focused on the natural world. Simmonds' poem was inspired by her time at the Bear River Writer’s Conference in 2013, and it was originally published in "Empowered Hearts, 2017." Pamela Simmonds is described as a writer who shares her life experiences through various mediums, including her website, where she blogs and develops stories.

Opinions

The author conveys a sense of profound connection and emotional depth experienced at the retreat.
The poem contrasts the innocence of children learning about nature with the complex nature of adult experiences and emotions.
There is an appreciation for the transformative power of sharing personal stories in a supportive environment.
The retreat is portrayed as a sanctuary for self-discovery and healing, highlighting the importance of such spaces for personal growth.
The author's perspective is one of reflection and gratitude for the experiences that have shaped her life and writing.

A Poem

In a small room Where All summer long Young children Will learn about Insects And butterflies Invasive species And birds of prey

We Bared our souls To one another Naked

For four days Sharing of childhood horrors And dead Mothers and Sisters Husbands and Sons And lost loves Disappointed Dads And inner beauty

And how we arrived From there to here And here to where?

In a small room Where Children learn about The beings of nature We learned about The nature of our beings

I attended a writing retreat in Michigan in 2013 called the Bear River Writer’s Conference. Normally the location on Walloon Lake houses a summer camp for kids, but for several days each spring the University of Michigan uses it for the retreat. It was in one of the small nature study rooms where the inspiration for this poem about our experiences in the seminar came to be.

Originally published in Empowered Hearts, 2017

Pamela Simmonds writes from a quintastic perspective about her life experiences as a woman over 50 on her website www.aquintasticperspective.ca. She divides her writing time between blogging, developing fictional stories, and writing a collection of memoir stories describing her colorful and often challenging life.