In this month’s poem, a writer explores about the healing powers of water and nature to restore strength and hope
by Mildred Kiconco Barya | illustrated by Lidia Churakova

Mildred Kiconco Barya is a North Carolina-based writer and scholar whose work intersects the fields of ecopoetics, environmental humanities and social justice. She teaches writing workshops globally and is the recipient of 2025 Jacobs/Jones African American Literary Prize and 2020 Linda Flowers Literary Award. Hands in Clay (Serving House Books, 2025) is her fifth poetry collection. “No matter where I look, I feel as if we’re trapped in one season, politically. My poem ‘The Journey’ is inspired by the daily, grounding practices and rituals I turn to for sustenance.

Lidia Churakova is a visual artist who loves to share her creativity through multiple outlets, such as illustration, painting and murals. Coming from a strong design background with a bachelors degree in Art and Design from North Carolina State University, she approaches projects with a desire to express the emotional narrative through color and light. Learn more at lidiachurakova.art

This poem originally appeared in the July 2026 issue of WALTER magazine.