Poetry suggestions

[Karla]

OK I know nothing about poetry. But I need to pick a poem for a course that I am doing. I'm looking for something that expresses my own sentiments of free range naturism, that is the human animal in its natural environment.

I doubt I'll get many suggestions but I figure it's worth a shot. I have absolutely no idea where to even start looking.

[jbeegoode]

"This Morning's Child"

She sits amid the morning
Clothed by the sun
And her body smiles
At the miracle of life
That swells
And grows within her

Her nakedness
Makes family of us all
For we love
to the tune
That time has played
And celebrate the song
As Nature Dances

By Dennis Craig Smith in "The Bare Creek Anthology: 2005. P.46

Naked as Nature Press
POB 351
Lompoc, CA 93438

Also in there is the poem, "Naked Innocence" at more length and in the context of innocent naked children playing in nature as it relates. The whole book is nude poetry, limerick, etc. Very humorous.

NEC Naturist Education Committee, started by The Naturist Society, has a naturist library in Wisconsin and there is one in Florida. They may be a good source to contact for a poem.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

I'm sure that I'm forgetting something. There has been poetry popping up from time to time in "N" magazine.

Here's that one mentioned above. I decided to write it out. (p.47)

Naked Innocence

In a meadow lined with pines,
Dotted with owl's clover
In a time reserved for growing,
Breezy treetops watched over
Playful, carefree bodies
Immersed in their own reality.
Nature's children: silent, naked,
In perfect harmony
With the forest's concert
That frolics about them.
They hear without listening...

At stream side they bask in life
And surrender to its melody--
Occupying themselves in solitude
Without having to be alone. They are, without having to be told...

The progeny as infants blessed
Were touched by Nature
With the hand that made
A goose's down
And set the sun ablaze.
In charity the woodlands gave
At birth its legacy and love.
They play and love, without having to be shown...

The brook pranced by on timid feet
And children bathed undaunted
In their earthly garden
Without single care of being nude.
And free, recognized the worldly allies
That lived and bloomed about them.
Se wise, without to be taught...

Yes, near the bank they sat
In tepid comfort
And watched reflections
That went unchallenged.
Watching from a distance
We who've passed and known that very place
Will recall the youth we've lost
And try, so hard, their ways relearn...

[jbeegoode]

Oh heck...one more by Dennis (p.49):

"When I am Naked"

I am as ubiquitous as a breeze
As essential as spring rain
As natural as prairie grass
Unfettered by the unnecessary
Strengthened by the integrity of the cosmos
Clothed by the sun
Naturally bound to the universe by identity
       I can feel at each pore of my liberated skin
Standing clothes-free in my tracks on wet sand
       softened by the sea -
           I am Cree
           I am Chumash
           I am Bantu
           I am Carib
           I am Txucaramai
           I am aboriginal
           I am life
           I am sovereign and ageless

Marveling at the tune as Nature Dances
           I celebrate the feel
           Of air to body
           And the relevance
           Of the most natural state

When I am covered by just the warmth of the day
I am conscious of the kinship
           With every newt
           And every tree
           And every generation
When I walk naked in wilderness I have purpose
Because Nature is Naked
When I am naked
     I am perfect
                      I am eternal
                                       I am Nature

[jbeegoode]

This stuff really sucked me in when I started copying it phrase by phrase, appreciating how he constructed it, reading them a few times over and over.
Jbee

[Karla]

This is really good. Thanks!

It needs to be just under 4 minutes long (can be shorter but I then need to make the other pieces longer). But even the short ones are useful in giving me an idea of what kind of poem I want and where to look for other poems.

[Karla]

Oh heck...one more by Dennis (p.49):

"When I am Naked"

I am as ubiquitous as a breeze
As essential as spring rain
As natural as prairie grass
Unfettered by the unnecessary
Strengthened by the integrity of the cosmos
Clothed by the sun
Naturally bound to the universe by identity
       I can feel at each pore of my liberated skin
Standing clothes-free in my tracks on wet sand
       softened by the sea -
           I am Cree
           I am Chumash
           I am Bantu
           I am Carib
           I am Txucaramai
           I am aboriginal
           I am life
           I am sovereign and ageless

Marveling at the tune as Nature Dances
           I celebrate the feel
           Of air to body
           And the relevance
           Of the most natural state

When I am covered by just the warmth of the day
I am conscious of the kinship
           With every newt
           And every tree
           And every generation
When I walk naked in wilderness I have purpose
Because Nature is Naked
When I am naked
     I am perfect
                      I am eternal
                                       I am Nature

Yes! This is exactly the kind of feel I want from the poem! I need to read it out loud to see how long it takes. Thanks.

[jbeegoode]

Each line gives a visual image, which has a grander sense to it, that needs to be savored with imagination. Each has a reverential punch to it. That takes a bit of time to imbibe, to place ones self into the meaning, to gather reference and be there. So, I read it very slowly and got much better than 2 minutes out of it and could still slow it down. Stretching it out gives the impression and time to soak in each line, as if a poem by itself. I image myself standing naked as he describes and it becomes quite meaningful. I'm there.

Some background on the author might suit your needs. Dennis is the author of two other books, "Naked Fear" and "Growing up Without Shame: Social Nudity: Its Effect on Children". He is also a now retired school teacher (5th grade, as I remember for 25 years) and has been a well know member of The Naturist Society and the southern California free beach movement. He started out just writing poetry, many cute fun little jokes, as hobby, fun, to entertain friends and ended up with a book.

So many of your photos certainly express much of this.

I'm glad to gift back to you. Thank-you for the opportunity. Hope it works.
Jbee