Celebrating World Poetry Day: Voices on Water from Around the Globe
This World Poetry Day, something remarkable happened.
Students from Kenya, the United States, and Malta picked up their pens and spoke from the heart about something everyone needs, but we don’t all have: water.
We find ourselves incredibly moved by how these poems reveal not just the impact of water — but the impact of empathy, creativity, and awareness. Whether contemplative, practical, or lyrical, these poems reflect a deep understanding of water’s importance. Some voices reflect hardship, some gratitude, some urgency — but all carry wisdom well beyond the writers’ years.
Below, we’ve featured excerpts and full poems from students across the globe. Let their words “wash” over you.
Note: We’ve redacted students’ full names to respect their privacy.
A Poem of Pain and Healing
“Water” by Shantel and Gift
St. Jude Shikoti Boarding Primary School, Kenya
“They say water cleans it all / Water will let it all go
… But why don’t they understand / The water cannot wash away the emptiness in her soul”
This haunting poem reminds us that while water is essential, it’s not a cure-all — especially for emotional wounds. A powerful start to our collection.
Water as a Daily Gift
A gentle, rhythmic list of everyday tasks — drinking, cooking, washing — becomes a quiet call to action:
“Untitled” by Lucy and Corrine
St. Jude Shikoti Boarding Primary School, Kenya
“So we should save every drop of it, / Handle it with care.”
“What Water Means to Me!!” by Eva and Brinley
Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
“Remember to protect our water.”
Both poems remind us that something so essential can also be fragile — and deserves our care.
The Call to Protect
“What Water Means to Me” by Peace and Anyango, Kenya
“We must save water / For everyone’s sake.”
“What Water Means to Me” by Emme
Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
“Water gives life / It creates a lot of wildlife”
“What Water Means to Me” by Clay
Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
“Water makes us live. / Water is very tasty.”
And from a different poem by a group of girls at St. Jude Shikoti Girls’ Boarding Primary School:
“Simple, natural, sharing: a lifesaver is water. / So should we be in our character.”
Empathy and Action
Students from Campbell High School in the U.S. reflected on their own access to water — and what that means for others around the world. This amazing school even has its own Water Project Club, showing just how passionate these students are about spreading access to safe and reliable water.
“What Water Means to Me” by Ayokanmi
Campbell High School, United States
“My fellow humans are thirsty / Their water is dirty
… You can simply give / So the less fortunate can live”
“What Water Means to Me” by Lillian
Campbell High School, United States
“Sunrise over the sea / Gentle swells bring hope”
And Aida from Sleeping Giant Middle School recognizes her own privilege when it comes to safe water access.
“Privilege” by Aida
Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
“Water is a privilege not everyone has…
People are alive because of the privilege.”
These poems offer a powerful reminder: awareness is the first step toward change.
Visions of a Bright Future
Some students responded with simple joy and creativity.
“The Water” by Diego
Ojus Elementary School, United States
“Water is clear and bright / A gift from nature to you and me.”
“Cleaning Water” by Zabrina
Ojus Elementary School, United States
“From muddy stream to crystal flow,
it helps our world and makes it grow.”
“What Water Means to Me” by Max
Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
“Think of your favorite place to float…
Then think it’s polluted…
So keep the water clean.”
“WATER” by Taj
Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
“It goes sploosh. / It is refreshing and cool. / Water is amazing. / It goes plip.”
A Deep Understanding
This collective poem touches on both abundance and scarcity, privilege and responsibility.
“What Water Means to Me” by students at Gozo College, Kercem Primary School, in Malta
“We don’t know what is thirst / as we are able to drink first…
Water is a big utility / and it is my responsibility.”
A Global Tapestry of Voices
From Kenya to Malta, from Georgia to Montana and Florida, students are thinking about the same thing: how precious water is — and what it means to share it.
A thousand thanks to every student who submitted a poem. You’ve helped put into words what The Water Project has always believed: water connects us, inspires us, and moves us.
Poems’ Full Text
Water
By Shantel and Gift
St. Jude Shikoti Boarding Primary School, Kenya
They say water cleans it all
Water will let it all go
She also believed the same
But little did they know
That water can only remove the dust on her
The pain shall always stay
The wounds will take years to heal
This pain will not go away in a day.
“Oh, take a bath, you will feel better”
But why don’t they understand
The water cannot wash away the emptiness in her soul
Neither can it wash away the guilt of blood on her hand
Untitled
By Lucy and Corrine
St. Jude Shikoti Boarding Primary School, Kenya
Water is everything to me.
I use it to bathe.
I use it to wash clothes.
I use it to water plants and animals.
I use it to drink.
I use it to cook.
I use it to wash the house.
With water, I am all clean.
So, we should save every drop of it,
Handle it with care.
We use water everywhere.
Water should not be taken for granted.
What Water Means to Me
By Peace and Anyango
St. Jude Shikoti Boarding Primary School, Kenya
Water is a boon.
Water is life.
Without any water,
Nothing will survive.
We need water, and
Earth needs it too.
Don’t waste it,
We can’t make a mistake.
We must save water
For everyone’s sake.
What Water Means to Me 2
By girls at St. Jude Shikoti Boarding Primary School, Kenya
Water: so sweet and essential,
is always so loving and humble.
Teaches us to live a life simple.
Goes on and on, even if it tumbles.
A drop of it is thin,
never it stands still,
moves on as far as it can,
like life moves on ’til it spans.
A drop of it falls just upon the bed.
It’s quick to move and all gets spread.
Just as a drop of knowledge makes an ocean,
few water droplets, yet another mighty ocean.
Unimaginable is a life without water,
just as a life without laughter.
Simple, natural, sharing: a lifesaver is water.
So should we be in our character.
What Water Means to Me
By Ayokanmi
Campbell High School, United States
Water is life
But without it is strife
I take for granted
Because its availability is slanted
But for the other side
Thirst is a growing tide
My fellow humans are thirsty
Their water is dirty
At least our wells offer hope
Alas, they still have to cope
So, to my fellow classmates
It’s not too early or too late
You can simply give
So, the less fortunate can live
What Water Means to Me
By Lillian
Campbell High School, United States
Sunrise over the Sea
Gentle swells bring hope
The waves open to the sky,
Tides bring a new day.
The Water
By Diego
Ojus Elementary School, United States
Water is clear and bright.
Quenches our thirst day and night.
It flows, it moves, it’s free.
A gift from nature to you and me.
Cleaning Water
By Zabrina
Ojus Elementary School, United States
To clean water and pure,
is how we keep our future secure.
From muddy stream to crystal flow,
it helps our world and makes it grow.
We filter drops.
We clear the way.
For brighter nights,
and brighter days.
No dirt, no grime,
just sparkling blue.
A gift for all,
both me and you.
With care and love, we make it right,
to keep it shining in the light.
Each drop we save,
each stream we mend,
protects the Earth,
our greatest friend.
So cherish water.
Let’s be wise,
keep rivers clean
beneath the skies.
For every life,
it gives and feeds.
Clean water answers
all our needs.
What Water Means to Me
By the students at Gozo College, Kercem Primary School, Malta
What if when we wake
there’s no water to take?
What if when to open the tap we go,
there’s no water to flow?
Every day of our life
we need water to strive.
On it we depend.
Without it, life would end.
We cook and we bathe.
We don’t have to be late.
We just push the button
and water comes out all of a sudden.
We don’t know what is thirst
as we are able to drink first.
Our water is clean,
as filtered it has been.
What if all this goes away
and without water we must stay?
Did it ever cross your mind
that for some children water is hard to find?
Water is a big utility
and it is my responsibility
to be part of the plan
to bring water to as many people as we can.
What water means to me!!
By: Eva and Brinley, Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
Water is so amazing,
And without water we won’t live.
Today we need to stop polluting,
Even though people still do.
Remember to protect our water.
What water means to me
By Clay, Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
Water makes us live.
Water is very tasty.
Water is very good.
WATER
By Taj, Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
WATER
is good.
and good.
and good.
and good.
and good.
It goes sploosh.
It is refreshing and cool.
Water is amazing.
It goes plip.
What water means to me
By Max, Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
Water is life. Everyone, please stay clean so we can fish. Think of your favorite place to float down a river, or a lake you like to fish or boat paddle board. Then think it’s polluted so you can’t fish or float or boat, so keep the water clean.
What Water means to me
By Emme, Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
Water is lots of fun
We need water to run
Water gives life
It creates a lot of wildlife
This poem is all done.
Privilege
By Aida, Sleeping Giant Middle School, United States
Water is a privilege
not everyone has.
Water helps continue life.
Life and water go hand and hand.
Without it,
it would be a life no one could stand.
People are alive because of the privilege.
If these poems moved you, consider joining us in bringing clean water to more communities. Start your own fundraiser or make a donation in honor of these young poets.
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Jamie Heminway
Jamie is a storyteller by nature. In joining the Water Project, she’s finally found a workplace where that pesky bleeding heart of hers can be put to use (and, less importantly, that BA in English Language & Literature from New England College).