Water Council

In a myth time gathering around the winter council fire, each animal at the Water Council passionately argues that their form of water is best, seeking exclusive rights to the treasure.

Water Council started out as a story, illustrated by my paintings. Several years later, I rewrote the story into a play performed with accompanying original jazz score by the Moving Edge Ensemble.

Spider hopes this council will not end in disaster. Last year she had nearly been flattened when Whale, furious at Coyote, had slammed the lodge wall. The question again before them: What is the true nature of water? Which of its forms holds the greatest magic? The latecomers take their places. Salmon, first to speak, draws a ragged breath and begins; invoking the beauty and benefits of the mountain river. Other animals follow with their description of water in their home; ocean, snow, tidewater, clouds, rain.

But after Coyote ridicules Raven’s over the top perspective on the clouds, other animals get into the fight and the old relationships of predator to prey strain the council’s truce. Even Cricket gets involved: “What about the dew? What about the dew?What about the dew?” Spider’s wisdom finally calms the bedlam. By a trick of her own she demonstrates that water is the essential substance of life which all creatures hold in common.