Elton Camp Poet Rhyme

The Water Witch

The Water Witch

By Elton Camp

Perhaps “dowser” is a preferable name,
But the two are actually just the same
Men who had this power weren’t weird
They were respected rather than feared

They sincerely believed they could tell
The very best place to dig or drill a well
And the key to the water witching trick
Was to cut a fresh, forked hickory stick

The tip was pointed up toward the sky
On its turning down the man did rely
The dowser held it as he walked about
That he could find water he didn’t doubt

When it went down toward the ground
He said, “This is the best spot around.
Drill your well on this very spot here,
That you won’t find water never fear.”

There is no way dowsing could be true
With a diving rod, the same I could do
Because I very quickly came to learn
Change the tension.  The stick would turn

Water is in the ground most everywhere
It matters little if you drill here or there
Well was dry?  On dowser ‘twas rough
His ruse:  “You didn’t go deep enough.”

To trust dowsing, there is no reason why
Some people seem to need to believe a lie
I expect that some reviewer will come to say
“You are just so wrong.  It works that way.”

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Sara Kendrick February 12, 2011 at 5:06 PM I have heard of that but it was called something else...A well man will come and say you will probably get water there and you usually will but not telling how deep one would have to go..Great work that you have done..Good flow and rhymes..Sara

Robert Pettit February 12, 2011 at 4:26 PM This reminded me of an episode of the Andy Griffith show. As usual, your work is pervasively descriptive with suitable rhyming. Another good going Elton.

Elton Camp February 12, 2011 at 1:34 PM Hey Edwin, I grew up seeing water witches in action here in rural north Alabama. Some used devices other than a hickory stick, but that was the most common. It is, of course, nothing but rank superstition. Elton