Imagining Water

On February 20th as a part of the Drift & Drag symposium, agents from the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture led attendees in a collaborative Imagining about water. Participants gathered in small groups and reflected on three prompts:

• a memory of water

• a question in relation to water issues

• an action or solution that addresses a water related issue

After everyone had a chance to share their thoughts, the groups broke into pairs and created three-line poems inspired by their conversations. Below are those poems.

Water everywhere, water nowhere
Cherish its beauty, cherish its value
Protect it, conserve it
Pay for what it’s worth
Think as you drink


With the red light at night
As the waves crash the shore
We are one with the sea
Our shared Breath; once adored
Unfortunately now – no more 

Wading in the cold fast water at night
Floating on the bay, no land in sight
Images of childhood, water would always be alright 

Power of water, fear of ice
And its absence, parched fields no rain.
Accepting the forces and cycles of nature,
Acting to help sustain them


Fear of abundance and emptiness
Conflict of being seventy percent contained
Thirst of fulfillment 


Traveling by canoe on the river to KC
The murkiness of the water
Reflects the lack of policies 


Water provides life
Water takes life
Water is life 

Memory playing in place
Disconnect rift adrift no feel
Celebrate in spirit, sink or swim 


Tradition of body-meets-water
Demonstrate the wise example
Connection education awareness community 


Admitting failure but not despairing
Water connects us all
Failure to honor the water leads to dune

Thank you to the staff of the Mulvane Art Museum, Marguerite Perret and all of the participant poets.