Having just returned from 3 weeks at camp, I thought I would share the autobiographical poems I wrote at Samantha Pearse’s wonderful, creative writing workshop at Druid Camp.
Tears On Strangers
Yesterday I cried on strangers
Today friends cried on me
A perfect simile
Of my life
And me
Its the illusion of invincibility
That makes those tears on strangers
A more comfortable place to be
Without the weight of responsibility for others
Often placed
On me
By me
Which Is Me?
Camp is a place for my selfhood
Where I can be fully me
I dress how I like
And be who I am
Just me
Just free
I doubt if I belong at times
Is this real
Which is truly me
The grey haired
Middle Aged
Plump mother of four
Or the silver haired
Floaty goddess
Who strides confidently
Mostly barefoot
Across the field
The wild woman inside
Who yearns to be free
In this place of magic
Of druids and fire
Of earth, air and water
And then I know
Myriad aspects
Multi sharded mirror views
All are me
What Is This Doubt That Bites Me?
What is this doubt
That sometimes bites me
Late at night
Or in the wee small hours of morn
While the wind howls
And camp sleeps
Gentle snores
Child cries
Soft sighs
Pleasure moans
Community sounds
Of life as it is meant to be
Soft words and gentle hands
Sooth my body, mind, my all
The kindness of my circle
Nourishes me and my children
Satisfying many levels
Those seen and unseen
The biological and metaphysical
And camp feeds
Feeds my magic
Expands my hands
My heart, my very soul
Sating all aspects of me
Photo courtesy of Tony Faulkner and Walks With Hawks (we have amazing opportunities at Camp – this is another one of them I did the same week).
Samantha Gadsden walks with women on their life’s journeys. She is an experienced Doula, based close to Cardiff in South Wales, mother to 4 children and wife to Eddie, more information can be found on her facebook page, Samantha Gadsden Doula and her website, Caerphilly Doula. SOS Doula, Telephone and online support is always available.
If you are interested in writing a guest blog or sharing a life or birth story please feel free to contact her HERE.
“Your Journey, Your Body, Your Baby, Your Birth“
