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15 January 2024

Posted by By Tabby Hayward

Bodies of Water

This week, continuing our 'Water' theme, we began by deciding which body of water represented how we were feeling today - answers ranged from rivers to jacuzzis, ponds to waterfalls! Next, we thought about what that body of water would be like if it was actually a body of water - if it was human. How old would they be, what gender would they be, what colour would their hair and eyes be, would they be tall or short, curvy, plump or willowy, what kind of clothes would they wear, how would they move? What would their voice sound like? What makes them happy, and angry, and sad? 

Here's the sketch for Reina's body of water:

Skater with dreadlocks running in a constant flow of itself. 

He/him 

Slim build. 

Deep aqua green/hazel eyes. 

Beanie hat. 

Wearing grey suit with plain sage t shirt underneath, with sneakers with air valve to keep pushing through the water. 

Neither shy nor talkative. 

Happy to keep to themselves, but won’t dismiss a conversation with a stranger. They enjoy their job. Newspaper/post boy, using the water tunnels that flow through the city to deliver newspaper and post to the right offices. Likes splashing the water to hit the plants that grow over the side. 

They dislike being kept indoors and not having anything to do. 

They dream of being to grow a vertical farm in the city. 


After a free write from the point of view of this body of water, we read and listened to two poems about bodies of water - an extract from the start of Alice Oswald's book length poem 'Dart', and three snapshots from Kat Dixon-Ward's pamphlet length poem 'Pond'. Inspired by this, the group wrote some intriguing poems about their own bodies of water...

By David:
I ripple as you drop the stone and throw the next one across me

You can see you, as clear as I can see you looking back at you, looking back at me. 

My peace and tranquility shattered by your throws, yet I don't mind the opportunity to change direction, only for a moment to the riverbank on either side.

Touching new grass, soil and tree roots for those who visit me later, it will look merely like a morning dew.

By Reina:
Excuse me. Yes, 

out of my way. I have an importance here and I don’t 

stop for anyone. 

I'm getting to you, and I’m tunnelling through. But I do not 

Hello, here you are, goodbye. 

I have a purpose and I have importance. Who else could run 

as fast, you can try, but your plans may go awry. 

I can bend and I can lay out, I can squeeze and I can grow but I can never stop my flow. 

I do not 

stop for anyone 

I can't 

I wish I could stay for a merry little chinwag, but my purpose is more important, more brief greetings to be had.

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