Second Wind Writing Group
Joan Fiset LMHC
206-949-1837 jcfiset@gmail.com
Naming ~ How it is with you ~ Swampy Cree Naming Poem
The Swampy Cree Naming poem tells “how it is with you” by choosing a name such as Quiet Until the Thaw, then writing a poem that tells the story of your name:
Quiet Until the Thaw
Her name tells of how
it was with her.
The truth is, she did not speak
in winter.
Everyone learned not to
ask her questions in winter,
once this was known about her.
The first winter this happened
we looked in her mouth to see
if something was frozen. Her tongue
maybe, or something else in there.
But after the thaw she spoke again
and told us it was fine for her that way.
So each spring we
looked forward to that.
Quiet Until the Thaw likes to be silent. She doesn’t feel like talking. Nothing’s wrong; she just doesn’t want to talk:We’ll explore “how it is” with you/ us using right brain writing strategies. Sometimes “how it is with you” is how it is in a given moment or it can be how it is with you most of the time.
In addition, we’ll incorporate polyvagal theory as it relates to various feeling states,as well as poems, images, and excerpts from literature to provide prompts and catalysts for our writing.
Each session of the six total will be self contained, so you can jump in at any time:
First Round: July 13th, 20th, 27th Second Round: August 17th,24th, 31st
If you commit to all three in a given round of three sessions, the fee is $150.
Single sessions will be $60 each. Individual sessions will meet for 2 and ½ hours.