I like water.
It’s nice in tubs,
And nice for floors in need of scrubs.
It’s nice on beaches, where small waves slide
It’s nice in puddles, and streams, and lakes,
And in waterfalls, where it glistens and breaks
Over rocky cliffs, into ferny places.
It’s nice for washing hands and faces.
It’s nice for gardens.
It makes them grow
With tasty plants in a sturdy row.
It’s nice around islands—
It makes them be
Safe as a secret just known to me.
It’s nice under bridges, shadowed there
Full of gliding fish that stop and stare
At watercress, and forget-me-nots
That fringe such shadowy, watery spots.
I like water. Water’s nice.
It’s nice when I’m hot—
And it’s nice when it’s ice!

—Kathryn Jackson
The Golden Book of 365 Stories


08.14.2023: Most kids love playing in water. I think we’d all be better off if we tried harder to appreciate what kids seem to be naturally drawn to.