When the Water is Gone

E95: My July Climate Call to Arms

Jul 09, 2023

“I wonder … if the next generation will know water the same way I did.
The way it runs through the fingers, the way it wrinkles the hands, cools the skin …
I wonder … if my grandkids will ever throw a penny in a fountain. And hear it splash.”
— Rudy Francisco, “When the Water is Gone”

Five years ago I slipped on a poetry slick left behind by spoken word artist Rudy Francisco. To say that this poem turbo-charged my interest in making my difference in the Climate discussion is an understatement.

Every. Single. Metaphor. brought a smile, as memories flooded back from my childhood. Or, of watching my own children create water features by putting the sprinkler under the trampoline, followed by drenching their friends in a super soaker chase across the neighbourhood.

Every. Single. Metaphor. of the changes that are [~~inevitably~~] unfolding were also starkly, uncomfortably presented. I struck out inevitable because that is what I am here to challenge.

When the Water is Gone

“I remember taking a deep breath, trying to get as much July into my lungs as humanly possible,”

This poem launched me as a climate vocalist in 2019. Guided by that opening line I dedicate the month of July to advocate for climate awareness. It is my July Right of Passage — the stand I take each year — in the hope that those of us out enjoying the summer, the beach, the lake, the fishing, the surf, might think a little beyond September and “wonder if my grandkids will ever throw a penny in a fountain. And hear it splash.”

Visit my website karenadesouza.com, to read my response/manifesto. I crafted a visual poem that slips and slides its way across the page. Unfortunately, it doesn’t retain its formatting here in substack.

When the Water is Gone, Rudy Francisco

It includes this section:

IN ONE GENERATION

How did we give all this up?
In the space of one generation?
How are we at a point where we cannot guarantee our children
and our children’s children
the pleasure and memories of this abundance?

Please come back to tell me which of his lines kicked you hardest in the gut. What made you think “… surely that is impossible!” … And suddenly it is the summer of 2023.

Pairings:

I believe in humanity’s ability to innovate itself toward progress. I’m fostering an atmosphere where we are encouraged to strive for technical and social solutions to the climate crisis. But I also keep up the pressure. Some readings that pair with today’s essay:

Urgency varietal: In trend-spotting “One is an outlier. Two is a cluster. Three is a trend.” Look at this sequence of headlines
- World registers hottest day ever recorded on July 3 [2023] - Reuters
- This July 4 [2023] was hot. Earth’s hottest day on record, in fact. - Washington Post
Hope varietal: From a post by climate scientist, Katherine Hayhoe, Author of Saving Us, Chief Scientist for the Nature Conservancy. (preserving her links to the papers that connect to these specific phrases.) She is my climate muse as she is on the frontline of the battle. And yet she finds something positive to look foward to:
”Spending time in nature is good for your physical and mental health, plus it also fosters pro-environmental attitudes; so I always try to make that a priority, too!”
Rudy Francisco performing his poem:

Welcome to Tribe Tilt!

We are rapidly approaching the 100th edition of this newsletter! I thank you for riding alongside me on this adventure of discovery.

I have a special ask. Can you please hit reply and email/text/DM me which has been the most memorable moment from this list of all my essays? It could be a phrase, or the emotion of a story - particularly if it caused you to reconsider a position or take an action.

This week we’ve added fellow travelers from India and one from my town of Oakville.

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See you next week. Stay healthy. From there all else becomes possible.
Karena