© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
The river snakes
A lifeline to millions
Their fate dependent on its waters
For fish and food
Construction, summer rains carry sediment
From Tibet through China, Burma, Laos and Cambodia
Until finally, in Vietnam, it heads to sea
through a turbid Mekong Delta
where people fish and eat
then wash and pee.
In response to Paula’s Thursday’s Special
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
🙂 I read your poem three times. Thank you, Irene for this series of photos with your accompaniment in verses. They are all powerful, documentary photos, and many will agree with me and say how outstanding the last one is.
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Thanks Paula. I’m moved by your thoughts. The last one is definitely a powerful image.
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You’re welcome, Irene.
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Definitely turgid waters, and I too love that last shot. 🙂
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Thanks. I know I wouldn’t be bothered washing my hair if I had to use that water.
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The last photo gave me pause as it speaks so much. Thank you for sharing these images and words
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Thank you. It does make you stop and think.
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A great poem, Irene. Terse, focused, and with a powerful message. And the images carry their own weight as well. Thanks.
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Thank you Diane. Glad it talked to you.
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Water – so essential for life and yet this water looks like churned mud. I’d be afraid to put my toe in it. What contrast to those of us, me included, who go everywhere with our bottles of clean, purchased water.
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Yes it is a huge contrast and makes you stop and think.
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powerful! both images and poem.
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Thank you Klara. Much appreciated.
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I love your poems. This is a very powerful one. I wouldn’t want to wash or drink that water! We are so lucky to have clean water, but I do feel guilty at using it to flush the loo!
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Thank you Jude. I have never thought of myself as a poet but must admit that it is a medium that can express what you want to say in a more noticeable fashion. We are very lucky to have clean water and where we are any new dwelling has to have a rainwater tank to use for things like toilets. We had a holiday in Germany with my husband’s sister and they were obviously suffering drought at the time as she had a bucket for emptying bathwater to use in the flushing of the toilets.
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