SwampFire

Bex Miller’s photos . . . first a gallery of inner light, outer light . . . then Bex’s participant portraits with their reflections

Jenni Repka

Happiness is hard to pin for me.
Listening intently is exhausting.

But, I enjoy a challenge, even if I cannot explain well what I’m feeling. Thanks for the acceptance.

Nina Craig

            ~Nina’s reflection is on the way.

Ilse Schweitzer

One more time around the sun, one more time back to Kzoo and H House to hang out and listen, learn, share stories, and be inspired by so many amazing folks. Within 30 seconds of entering the house, I was marveling at MC’s handiwork and thinking about who and what we really see, and what they might see when they gaze back at us from there, enjoying tea in the “tea tent,” and discussing getting donkeys tattooed in various places in honor of this wonderful! I so love and appreciate you all ❤️

Amy Wise

            ~Amy’s reflection is on the way.

Robin Moss

           A Tea Blessing in Progress

Breathe
Just breathe
Tea is slow

We have all the time
that is right now

Leaves, people
You’ve traveled so far
to meet each other
here at the table
Approach each other with
gentleness and curiosity
Allow us to introduce you

Waterfall from above
Energy flow from earth
through clay
through leaf
through water
through self

Take a sip
Feel the shape of words
you cannot speak hold
space in your mouth

Listen to the story
being told on your tongue

Follow the dance move
through your body

Pay attention to it all,
or don’t,
you can just sip again
We have all the time
that is right now

Dawn Burns

Sunday night and everybody has cleared out from H House but Michele and me.

Mary Catherine has texted, “We are stitched together by SwampFire.”

My heart is so full, my words so few.

Grateful beyond measure.

Zed. . . aka Z the goblin

            (—after Larry Mitchell)

Here, and also there
the faggots and their friends
went to the women
and learned (again)
            to love play love in
the midst of this churning
revolution, revolt and revolve
the circles of muses
            furies
            fates
            graces
holding them, as if we
invented peace in pain
as if we teach them,
the faggots see
what the women know,
always knowing,
we love you.
            Zed ❤️

Michele Willman

            Shower thoughts from SwampFire:

—What is it about MC that leads me to reveal myself, to go deep into stories and thoughts and past and wonder?

Dawn reminds me of my dad—a wondrous human. Dawn brings all of us together, fosters community, nurtures everyone she comes into contact with. My dad’s joy is connection—not of people necessarily—but of what people need. Need a new bike tire? Hey! I know a guy who is junking some bikes. I have this old photo paper, can your artist friend use this? Connection. Community. Fostering. Nurturing. This is a special gift that has created a special place.

I am grateful to be a part of this community.
            Michele (the other Michelle)

Joyce Meier

Thank you, Dawn and Mary Catherine, for another inspiriting, opening writing session in community. There is such magic in SwampFire. Laughter and tears—and inspiration. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful this time with you and everyone is. What a lovely time.

Rachel Baker

Today is the start of something new and I do not feel ready to begin although yesterday I carefully packed the embroidered jacket. As I write I give away pieces of myself.

          And I do not feel ready to continue.
          When I was younger I believed in wholeness
          As I write I give away pieces of myself
          I couldn’t have known all life is loss

          When I was younger I believed in wholeness
          And anyway I want to forget
          I couldn’t have known all life is loss
          I had a dream I was stitched back into myself

          And anyway I want to forget
          Although yesterday I gently folded the embroidered jacket
          I had a dream I was stitched back into myself
          Today is the start of something new.
                    (first draft)

Dawn and MC, thank you for continuing to bring this wonderful retreat to life. I am so proud to say I’ve watched it grow since 2008. This is such a generative, nurturing safe space for creatives, and I look forward to what comes next!
                        Love,
                        Rachel Baker
                        2026

Ariel Krouse

It’s always good to be with other creatives.

Sarah Krouse

May the peace and love fostered here reach out to all corners of the universe.

Marcy Bauman

Dragonfly, dragonfly . . .
MC draggin’ a poem outta me,
And now I gotta fly . . .
I came in running on empty
and now, again, my tank is full.
And this is why I’m always coming back.

Tracie Swiecki

I drove away the first day buzzy.
Buzzing.
Swirling.
Smiling.

The stories. The Love.
The generosity.
The insight. The learning.

Overwhelming gratitude.

Thank you so much!

Michelle Marshall

I told Dawn that I awoke in the night with lines forming themselves into a Haiku—It was 2:24 AM, but I sat up in bed and reached for my night journal to write by the light of my phone:

                    Haiku of Two
            Who am I to you?
            You said “Daughter” to me then.
            I AM becomes BEing ME.

David Marshall

A sketch of David waving to us beside a tree as a river snakes toward distant mountains

Bex Miller

SwampFire is the people who show up. This year I felt seen in my fallow period, heard through my walls, and opened up to the value of who I am simply because I exist. Thank you to all who listened and encouraged me. I especially want to thank Zed, Rachel, Robin, Mary Catherine, Amy, Michelle, Dawn, and Cait. I can see a part of joy is possible. I feel cared for, inspired, and hopeful having been shown the path is joy.

Mary Catherine Harper

Here is the tanka (sort of) that I wrote to celebrate our SwampFire founder, Dawn Burns:

           I hate Dawn . . .
           In about forty minutes she writes
           a thousand and one words.
           In about forty minutes I write seven . . .
           maybe eleven if I’m lucky.

Thank you, my SwampFire community for your stories, like the wondrous story Michele Willman told of her second-grade self, writing of her stuffed-animal companions, Sawsee and Marshmallow, who traveled from Earth to Saturn. I can see them dancing on one of the rings of Saturn, their transcendence.

Cait West

Swampfire is always a place I can return to and remind myself who I am again. This community reminds me to keep being creative and keep connecting with others.