Still Wild: Poems from the Bear Shack

At the age of sixty, Suzanne Sunshower moved into an ancient hunt camp trailer, which she named Bear Shack, in a remote area of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This is her story.

"In her new collection, Sunshower loses herself in the remote wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Many poets/writers have made this journey. In Sunshower's hands, however, the path is studded with 'the last afros of red and orange' autumn and 'the pale, the pan' of the moon. Each yearling and chickadee become revelations as she struggles through blizzards, griefs, ice storms, and invaders (two-footed and four-footed). The way isn't easy. Yet, Sunshower's poetic GPS never falters. Here's my advice: When you see two roads diverge in a yellow wood, hold out your hand and let Suzanne Sunshower be your guide." -- Martin Achatz, two-time U.P. Poet Laureate and author of A Bigfoot Bestiary and Other Wonders.

"Whether discussing loss, loved ones, or ice storms, Sunshower takes her readers on physical and spiritual journeys in Still Wild: Poems from Bear Shack. Detailing her relocation to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, she depicts the Midwest as a frontier, sometimes feared, sometimes embraced, always alive. With her keen attention to detail, which is as precise as the 'tilt of [a] redtail's wing, ' she challenges the stereotype that the Midwest is merely a place to fly over. Always, in these lines, Sunshower reminds us to pay attention, to look up, to find home." -- CJ Giroux, author of Sheltered in Place and Destination, Michigan

"This poetic collection is a testament to bravery, grit, and human determination. Well-layered in story, laced with humor, wisdom, and the ever-present undertone of a wild enduring spirit. In these poems, Sunshower takes the reader into the untamed woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula on a quest to own and live on a little piece of primitive secluded heaven with her lovable dog in tow as sidekick, sole companion, and family member. Go deep into the woods in the pages of Still Wild and find yourself among something extraordinary in this brave tale of becoming a true Yooper." -- Lisa Fosmo, author of Mercy is a Bright Darkness

"Suzanne Sunshower's poems describe change, both personal and environmental, as reflected in herself and the landscapes she inhabits. Her poems are as elegant and spare as the woods in winter, yet encompass such topics as grief and change, mortality and renewal. We choose what we're willing to acknowledge is not in our control. Suzanne chose wisely when she moved to the woods. This collection is inspiring and instructive, and a joy to read." -- Sharon Crotser, Director, St. Ignace Public Library

SUZANNE SUNSHOWER is the author and editor of five books. She lives with her dog in Upper Michigan.

From Modern History Press

© 2025 Modern History Press (Ebook): 9798896560623

Release date

Ebook: 1 November 2025