Water’s Ways
My participation in Laura Shovan’s Water Poem Project has drifted a bit, but I’m still checking in now and then.
Margarita Engle invited us to write an ode about water. With everything happening it feels like a perfect time to write a poem of appreciation. I wrote this one about my mother’s backyard swimming pool. I don’t know when or if I’ll ever swim there again but I can certainly remember.
Meg Eden invited us to make a list of favorite words and compare one of them to water. I wasn’t sure if she meant favorite words or concepts or both. Cat is one of my favorite things and purr is one of my favorite words. I worked both of them into this poem. I really enjoyed this challenge. I will definitely do it again.
Water’s Ways
water pools in puddles
on the floor or maybe on a chair,
anywhere
water weaves in and out
of your feet
silent, water
gives you no clue
as to its whereabouts
water purrs,
curled up in a wave
or a pot
mewing water entices you
to come and play
oh, but water roars
when it wants more
in many ways water
is a cat
Elizabeth Steinglass
Happy Poetry Friday to you all. The round-up is at Nix the comfort zone.
Wishing you all my best,
Liz
Oh, both poems are inviting, cool and refreshing, Liz. I grew up with a backyard pool (I was very lucky I realize now). The line “traveling alone in this silent peaceful world” resonates with me so strongly. My brothers and I would have underwater races – who can go back and forth across the pool the most times underwater. I rarely won, but I loved the feeling anyway. Your second poem reminds me of ‘Fog’ by Carl Sandburg. Thanks for quenching my poetic thirst today. 🙂
Oh yes, we were lucky too. My mom still lives in that house, but she’s feeling like the pool is too much to take care of, so she may not open it again. It will be awfully sad to see it covered in the summer.
I loved “Oh, but water roars/ when it wants more.” Water really is like a cat. And your ode felt like a vacation away from the virus.
That’s my favorite part too, Janice.
Two fine poems. I particularly like the cat references in the second one: “water purrs,
curled up in a wave”–love that.
Thanks, Buffy. It was quite fun to write.
The swimming pool poem might be my favorite water poem that you’ve written so far, Liz. Such an interesting prompt giving rise to your second poem! It reminds me of Valerie Worth’s wonderful metaphor poems.
Thanks, Michelle. I love Valerie Worth’s poems.
Wow! You took that second prompt and ran with it! There are so many wonderful lines drawing out your metaphor. I especially like “water weaves in and out/ of your feet” and “water purrs/curled up in a wave.”
I loved that first poem, remember well an aunt’s pool & the great fun we had there. And the feline response to Kat’s challenge is such fun, Liz. Connecting to “Kat” in your poem with your favorite words makes it a very personal poem between her and you.
I love your poem, but OUCH…you have reminded me how much I miss swimming!
Delighted to see this poem again :>)
Your first poem is as refreshing as a dip in a pool. And your second takes my breath away!
The mewing water, the skimming of the pool brought me back to childhood.
Liz, your ode is so inviting, Liz. I would like to travel in the pool’s silent, peaceful world at this time of the raging virus. The 2nd poem is delightfully filled with thoughts of what cats do, mew, purr, etc. but cleverly descriptive of water.
“held up by invisible hands” This line goes way beyond this poem for me right now. Thank you, Liz.