Water water
in that hole
I see water in that hole
been so dry a heavy toll
now I see water in a hole
drinking drinking
drinking up
I keep drinking hands a cupped
all that water it’s going down
I keep drinking though it’s brown
walking staggering
just how far
to another waterhole reservoir
the door of hope is now ajar
waterholes be my repertoire
heat and sun
pounding down
no further waterhole to be found
in the lee of boulders I go to ground
to die in shade without a sound
On any given day
the water might be blue or grey
when it is grey my mood is somber
the heavy clouds I watch and ponder
but with breaking sunshine my spirits lift
enchanting me such a precious gift
changing my mood to a brighter hue
while turning the water the sweetest blue
Here jewell like beads of water hang from grassy stems
the crystal clear worlds inside each reflect a world less clear on the outside
shiny bright surfaces glisten and sparkle with the captured light of morning
here in perfect symmetry each luminous pearl is delicately balanced
suspended flawless and oblivious of the future
pulled by gravity against the surface tension of a liquid sphere
each represents one of millions or billions across this mist dusted field
here a landscape is bejewelled
a scene elemental as the water of which it is composed
rich as every jewel that composes it
here natural beauty on a tiny scale is the very essence of pleasure en masse
I searched for the river to slake desperate thirst I thought it was somewhere around here I thought I smelled water but I remained cursed every turn brought simply more tears I toiled through the scrub on my knees as a first I soon began to smell fear the dry of my throat and my eyes were the worst but I still felt there was water around here my effort was flagging my heart fit to burst lost I scrambled and crawled for life dear then I heard a tinkle with cracked lips pursed I stopped to listen and peer was I tricked, in illusion immersed? no, there a gleam through the woods did appear and I rose and I ran and the wild things dispersed as I charged and leapt logs like a deer all the pain and the doubt that I had nursed vanished like fog from a weir disappeared in that moment I felt myself blessed I found water deep, cool and clear and I dived right in, water up to my chin I drank and rejoiced in the swim and I swore in that water that life giving elixir no wrong would I e’er do again
The creek is dry
sandy bed bleached instead
the creek is low
paddle depth for a toddler to enjoy
the creek is frothing
splashing cascades for bum jumping
the creek is running free
smooth water turns and swirls
the creek is high
turbulence and turbid as
the creek is full of
deep dark fast water
the creek broke its banks
shallow eddies in the paddock
pools rapids in the gullies
the creek is awash
scouring the walking track
eroding the embankments
undercutting the trees
the creek is in flood
rushing water rips at posts
waves break the surface
vegetation speeds by
logs twist and turn
the creek threatens the town
roads are awash
sandbags are filled
roads disappear
cars float
stock are isolated on islands
or washed away
the creek becomes a lake
houses are inundated
some become mobile then collapse
businesses go under
boats take to the rapid water for rescue and supply
the creek abates
there are mud piles and debris carcasses and wire
the clean up begins
the creek will do it again
such a small creek
My boat afloat
upon the wavering sea
did accomplish its purpose
most buoyantly
my boat cast
upon any stoney shore
did rest awaiting my next
adventure with sail and oar
my boat I lost
to a watery grave
holed by a reef, by my being naive
and it still lies awaiting
this next sojourn to end
but alas
I rest there too
a watery spectre
beside my flooded friend
immersed in water
luxuriously suspended in space
cut off from the entire breathing human race
reflecting on water
so much to consider
when water as commodity goes to the highest bidder
tumbling in water
battered by an abused life giving sea
will i survive this wave crunching of me?
drinking any water
found on a scorching day
too many of these are making the earth pay
freezing in water
a break in the ice
i pull myself up, but just fall in twice
drawing down water
bought for the farm
having to buy water represents harm
a well full of water
a sense of security
an empty well brings fear to my family
river bed water
evaporates into the air
when will i see it again? i can’t up there
everywhere water
after drought comes flooding rain
our homes went under last year, then again and again
methane in the water
turn the tap and it burns
fracking structural layers causes geological churn
water suspension
plastic on every scale
next on the weather agenda - plastic hail
toxic water
neutralises fishing skills
no good fisherman can live on massive fish kills
ocean water
systems anchor for the world
danger warning flags ignored although they’ve been unfurled
wars over water
beginning and the end
is your water consuming neighbour enemy or friend?
drowning in water issues
battling exhaustion
this marks the end of my allocated portion
My first attempt at responding to David’s W3 where PoW Sylvia Cognac’s prompt is “water”
Water over rocks
Cascades into swirling pools
As winter rains refill
Water over rocks
Washes away rocky past
As winter rains refill
Strathbogie poetry
#strathbogiepoetry
When Sissy
went into the water
I followed.
Naturally.
Because I,
a younger brother,
had an older sister
I adored.
Well, what else is a sibling
water daughter for?
I saw her wavering figure
deep down ahead,
cutting through
crystalline
mountain water
like an arrow.
Streaming effervescence.
I saw her
touch the bottom
of washed sand,
of rounded stones
smoothed by years
of grinding,
with a pat of her hand.
Box ticked.
Camp task
number one
accomplished.
River mastered.
She rose then.
A lithe silver nymph
spearing her way to the surface.
And I knew I was in trouble,
as I
continued down.
Caught by the current
like one of those
smooth stones,
tumbled and bumped,
grated and ground.
I had no hardened surface
to resist the battering,
no thick skin
to soften defeat,
no awareness
of up or down,
no ability
to swim or float,
not even the desire to flap about.
I just froze,
one with the chilled water.
Not desperate,
not fearful.
That would come later.
I was
simply,
absolutely,
completely,
unable to comprehend
how I could find
myself here.
What did it mean
exactly?
Incapacitated
by lack of learning.
Paralysed
by ignorance.
Alone,
for the very first time
in my very short life,
the refracted sky
above was still blue,
the fluffy clouds
were still white,
the trees on the bank
were still green.
I,
however,
remained unseen.
The water became
my atmosphere,
thick,
tangible.
The known world
began to disappear.
The water
filled my ears.
Sound disappeared.
The water
filled my nose
and my mouth.
I couldn’t call out.
The weight
on my chest grew heavier.
I couldn’t breathe,
anything,
but water.
My colleagues have gone with a wave friendly
I sit enjoying my third cup of tea
restorative, after work as a volunteer bushy
the silence is golden, post a productive working bee
there is a koala up high looking down at me
a bee hive opposite, in the hollow of the tree
a cockatoo sits in shade on the creekside lee
blue sky above, sun shining brilliantly
hot on my back as summer clings enduringly
the wind is still, as still, as still can be
all I hear are sweet biscuits crunch, recharging energy
the water at my side this year flows sluggishly
not a ripple, not a splash, just mirror brown and glassy
the grass is dry and crisp, the colour yellow sandy
the eucalypts grey green, their heat resistance handy
not a breath ruffles the leaves hanging limp and lazy
the world outside is a world away, way too fast too crazy
the peace is as complete as any peace can be
as I sit in this place to savour, post working bee cup of tea
poetography.ink 