With elegant awe we view Piedmont and mountain land,
And its underground counterpart we try to understand.
The animated hidden ground water has much to say.
Looking closely, we see how the water game will play.
Beneath all of the slopes of every mountain valley,
And under more Piedmont slopes than we can tally,
Ground water moves at its preferred pace,
Never interested in some competitive race.
Under the soil and into rock’s winding fractures,
Always seeking springs and lowland apertures,
Trickling below elusively for tens to hundreds of weeks,
Ground water moves steadily toward nearby creeks.
The aquifers are bounded by hilltops and adjacent streams.
Further limited by deep unfractured rocks, each seems
Ready to cope with global warming and our water need,
But our greedy habits don’t abide by the aquifers’ creed.
In a trough between adjoining aquifers is each river or creek.
Aquifers nourish and pamper them and try not to let them leak.
Furnishing water to streams during long periods without rain
Is a big responsibility that aquifers try to maintain.
A true environmental pulse is each aquifer’s water table.
Down in dry weather and up in wet weather is a nice label.
As each aquifer is small, modest in yield, and not tightly connected
Over-pumping of ground water regionally is not to be expected.
As each aquifer may be sensitive to abuse by us,
It can spitefully fight back and raise a fuss.
When water is overused or contaminants are in its path,
An aquifer has several ways to boldly express its wrath.
Not easily adaptable to human regulations,
Aquifers behave with their own deliberations.
The aquifers are talking, but do we listen?
Are there valuable lessons we are missin’?
Our forefathers expected pristine ground water everywhere.
Now, the hidden sea of ground water is pocked here and there
With a plume of contaminated ground water from each waste site.
Spreading and mixing of good and bad water is now a sorry plight.
Local aquifers refuse to cooperate with urban sprawl.
Dense population creates waste, and aquifers have gall.
Some aquifers are poisoned each month and can never come back.
Sustainability of all good ground-water supplies is not on track.
As surface water supplies weaken in a drought
Well water from aquifers may continue to spout.
Groundwater storage may lessen but can still bring
Water supplies to be replenished by the coming spring.
In emergencies that may arise with unforeseen disaster
Places for special pure water we may need to get faster.
Here and there is a pristine spring in a v-shaped valley
For us to appreciate and around which we can rally
Hill and dale, linked mini-aquifers everywhere surround us.
Translations of landscape and geologic thoughts are a plus.
Topographic maps help us to view aquifers in a splendid way.
We now see how each aquifer’s underground game can play.
The underground landscape offers new scenic views,
And exploring with aquifers offers a creative cruise.
To look under ground with art in virtual reality,
One can see nature’s handiwork and its vitality.
And its underground counterpart we try to understand.
The animated hidden ground water has much to say.
Looking closely, we see how the water game will play.
Beneath all of the slopes of every mountain valley,
And under more Piedmont slopes than we can tally,
Ground water moves at its preferred pace,
Never interested in some competitive race.
Under the soil and into rock’s winding fractures,
Always seeking springs and lowland apertures,
Trickling below elusively for tens to hundreds of weeks,
Ground water moves steadily toward nearby creeks.
The aquifers are bounded by hilltops and adjacent streams.
Further limited by deep unfractured rocks, each seems
Ready to cope with global warming and our water need,
But our greedy habits don’t abide by the aquifers’ creed.
In a trough between adjoining aquifers is each river or creek.
Aquifers nourish and pamper them and try not to let them leak.
Furnishing water to streams during long periods without rain
Is a big responsibility that aquifers try to maintain.
A true environmental pulse is each aquifer’s water table.
Down in dry weather and up in wet weather is a nice label.
As each aquifer is small, modest in yield, and not tightly connected
Over-pumping of ground water regionally is not to be expected.
As each aquifer may be sensitive to abuse by us,
It can spitefully fight back and raise a fuss.
When water is overused or contaminants are in its path,
An aquifer has several ways to boldly express its wrath.
Not easily adaptable to human regulations,
Aquifers behave with their own deliberations.
The aquifers are talking, but do we listen?
Are there valuable lessons we are missin’?
Our forefathers expected pristine ground water everywhere.
Now, the hidden sea of ground water is pocked here and there
With a plume of contaminated ground water from each waste site.
Spreading and mixing of good and bad water is now a sorry plight.
Local aquifers refuse to cooperate with urban sprawl.
Dense population creates waste, and aquifers have gall.
Some aquifers are poisoned each month and can never come back.
Sustainability of all good ground-water supplies is not on track.
As surface water supplies weaken in a drought
Well water from aquifers may continue to spout.
Groundwater storage may lessen but can still bring
Water supplies to be replenished by the coming spring.
In emergencies that may arise with unforeseen disaster
Places for special pure water we may need to get faster.
Here and there is a pristine spring in a v-shaped valley
For us to appreciate and around which we can rally
Hill and dale, linked mini-aquifers everywhere surround us.
Translations of landscape and geologic thoughts are a plus.
Topographic maps help us to view aquifers in a splendid way.
We now see how each aquifer’s underground game can play.
The underground landscape offers new scenic views,
And exploring with aquifers offers a creative cruise.
To look under ground with art in virtual reality,
One can see nature’s handiwork and its vitality.
