Barbara Simila merges poetry and the natural world of Lake Superior and Copper Country

Grants | NHPRC | Topics | Arts & Culture | Environment | Types | Interviews | Legacy Project Remote Work (2020-2021) | Special Collections | Poems, Poets, and Poetry |
January 13, 1995
Barbara Simila - Interviewee, Darlene Basto - Interviewer
Listen: Poet Barbara Simila interviewed by Darlene Basto
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Award-winning poet Barbara Simila from Michigan's Upper Peninsula discusses Lake Superior and Copper Country with fellow Keweenaw resident Darlene Basto.

Transcript:

(00:00:00) I've been writing poetry since I was a child I think in my very earliest years I listened to songs sung by my finish father songs and finish and songs in English, my mother wrote wrote poetry and often read me poetry and I was inspired to just follow along those lines. I think really believe that living in close harmony with nature The rhythms of the natural world produce in anyone who has a creative Talent the ability to express him or herself. rhythmically
(00:00:32) in your palms you get the sense that there's a real strong connection with both the people and the land up here has that always been the case or has there been somewhat of a loss in that connection and then a return to
(00:00:43) that I think that I feel most profoundly a connection with the lake and the forces of nature in this area and the people I most drawn to the people with whom I communicate best are people who are very much in touch with the natural rhythms of the seasons in the Copper Country the power of Blake Superior people who don't just stand back and look at things but actually go out and participate in the natural world with a degree of reverence and appreciation that some people might criticize especially if they're active Sports fishermen or women or Hunters. I think that I appreciate the entirety of the copper country lifestyle now in a way that I could not have 20 years ago in my more idealistic world.
(00:01:27) But on the other hand this poem that you talked about going out on Lake Superior in the winter and catching a fish. You're a sports fisherwoman at that point.
(00:01:39) Yes, and that's the kind of Lifestyle. I guess that I appreciate and the kind of lifestyle that I most respect. I appreciate the the wonderful way that people in the Copper Country have learned to make do and sustain themselves over the course of history with very simple Lifestyles and I often Find that the simplest people are the wisest people I talk to as
(00:02:00) well. So do you think that's in some way a direct effect from living by Lake Superior?
(00:02:07) Absolutely darling. I think that it's an absolute connection. I think that living in harmony with the rhythms of the lake living in harmony with the rhythms of the natural cycle of the seasons being conscious of the power of winter of the power of Lake to disturb destroy console seduce are all forces that these people are more in touch with than any Urban person could possibly
(00:02:30) know. And yet all these Urban people out there listening. Well you have any kind of thoughts for them. I mean as far as isn't there some way to be connected, even if you're living in a city
(00:02:43) absolutely come and visit the Copper Country, but be quiet when you come here.

Transcripts

text | pdf |

BARBARA SIMILA: I've been writing poetry since I was a child. I think in my very earliest years, I listened to songs sung by my Finnish father. Songs in Finnish and songs in English. My mother wrote poetry and often read me poetry.

And I was inspired to just follow along those lines. I think really believe that living in close harmony with nature, the rhythms of the natural world produced in anyone who has a creative talent, the ability to express him or herself rhythmically.

DARLENE BASTO: In your poems, you get the sense that there's a real strong connection with both the people and the land up here. Has that always been the case or has there been somewhat of a loss in that connection and then a return to that?

BARBARA SIMILA: I think that I feel most profoundly a connection with the lake and the forces of nature in this area. And the people I'm most drawn to, the people with whom I communicate best are people who are very much in touch with the natural rhythms of the seasons in the Copper Country. The power of Lake Superior.

People who don't just stand back and look at things, but actually go out and participate in the natural world with a degree of reverence and appreciation that some people might criticize, especially if they're active sports fishermen or women or hunters. I think that I appreciate the entirety of the Copper Country lifestyle now in a way that I could not have 20 years ago in my more idealistic world.

DARLENE BASTO: But on the other hand, this poem that you talk about going out on Lake Superior in the winter and catching a fish. You're a sports fisherwoman at that point.

BARBARA SIMILA: Yes. And that's the kind of lifestyle, I guess, that I appreciate and the kind of lifestyle that I most respect. I appreciate the wonderful way that people in the Copper Country have learned to make do and sustain themselves over the course of history with very simple lifestyles. And I often find that the simplest people are the wisest people I talk to as well.

DARLENE BASTO: So do you think that's in some way a direct effect from living by Lake Superior.

BARBARA SIMILA: Absolutely Darlene. I think that it's an absolute connection. I think that living in harmony with the rhythms of the lake, living in harmony with the rhythms of the natural cycle of the seasons, being conscious of the power of winter, of the power of lake to disturb, destroy, console, seduce are all forces that these people are more in touch with than any urban person could possibly know.

DARLENE BASTO: And yet all these urban people out there listening, do you have any kind of thoughts for them? I mean, as far as isn't there some way to be connected, even if you're living in a city?

BARBARA SIMILA: Absolutely. Come and visit the Copper Country. But be quiet when you come here.

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