On Tuesday, April 8, the third floor of Hodgin Hall hosted readings from “Water Bodies: Love Letters to the Most Abundant Substance on Earth,” edited by Laura Paskus. The event was put on by the University of New Mexico Water Resources Program and co-sponsored by three other UNM entities.
Many of the event’s attendees came from sustainability programs at UNM, dealing with the political and scientific issues surrounding water use. But this particular night focused on emotional connections to bodies of water.
“Water Bodies: Love Letters to the Most Abundant Substance on Earth” is a 2024 anthology featuring the works of writers, artists and poets.
“Specifically, I wanted an anthology that would help us remember that water isn't just what it serves us. It's not just for irrigation; it's not even just for fish and ecosystems,” Paskus said. “Water is an entity, I believe, unto itself — with its own desires and needs and wants — and should have its own rights.”
Paskus led the readings, followed by Leeanna Torres, Desiree Loggins, Maria Lane and Michelle Otero. Afterwards, instead of a Q&A, the speakers and audience took turns naming their favorite body of water.
“I think it is important for us all to be together in community, especially right now, and to collectively allow water — and why water is important to us each individually — into our awareness,” Paskus said.
Paskus — a longtime environmental journalist — stepped down from hosting the NMPBS series “Our Land: New Mexico’s Environmental Past, Present and Future” at the end of January.
“I spent twenty-something years as a journalist writing about the science, the legality, the management, the politics,” Paskus said. “With this book, I really just wanted to focus on the emotional connections.”
Dylan Anthony is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobocom or on X @dailylobo
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