Hydration Tracking is written in response to David’s W3 Prompt #220, where Jaideep is this week’s Poet of the Week. The task is to write a three‑line poem linking a traditional element of one’s culture with modern technology.
I’ve chosen the age‑old English tradition of Morris Dancing and paired it with today’s tech.
Drinking beer is closely affiliated with Morris dancing. The men (it is traditionally a men’s dance) can get rather parched on a hot summer’s day performing on a village green, or more often outside a pub. The exertion of hopping and jumping about, waving white hankies (and sometimes sticks) to the music of their own knee‑strapped bells and a folk squeeze box, can soon build up a thirst.
Hydration Tracking
Morris dancers’ knees ring bells and hands flick hankies in good cheer
my watch vibrates: hydration tracking
it’s time to drink another beer — my watch insists
—Lesley Scoble, July 2026
Morris dancing
Morris dancing is an English folk tradition dating back to the late 15th century. Originally part of court entertainments and village festivities, it evolved into the familiar bell‑and‑hanky dance seen on village greens and outside pubs today. Though its exact origins are uncertain, Morris has been revived many times — most notably in the early 20th century — and now thrives as a lively, eccentric, and much‑loved part of English cultural heritage.
Oil Painting
Here is a poor enprint photo of an old painting I made in my youth. The morris dancer on the left is an old family friend, Peter Austin, and the girl about to drop a penny into the hat is my twin sister, Teresa. The scene is outside The Blue Anchor pub on the river walk at Hammersmith. Hammersmith Bridge was originally in the background, but I removed it as it interfered with the composition.
I no longer own the painting — I gave it away — and I believe it now hangs on a wall somewhere in Australia…
Video of Morris dancers
Here’s a little video I shot of Morris dancers outside The Market Porter in Borough Market, London. It captures the characterful fun of this traditional folk dance.
W3 Poetry Prompt #220
Click below to read the full guidelines for the prompt.
Jaideep’s prompt: Heritage-Tech Fusion
The Challenge
Write one three-line poem that brings together a cultural tradition and modern technology.
Your poem can be playful, thoughtful, imaginative, or personal. Each line may contain any number of syllables, so feel free to follow your own natural rhythm.
Structure
- Line 1: Mention something traditional from your culture, such as a craft, art form, festival, song, food, or dance.
- Line 2: Connect that tradition with technology, such as AI, an app, a digital tool, a virtual space, or a smart device.
- Line 3: Show how the tradition and technology can work together, inspire one another, or create something new.
Most importantly, enjoy exploring how the past and the future can meet in just three lines.
Example
Pottery hands shape ancient clay
AI learns patterns from grandmother’s designs
Digital vessels tell new stories
Acknowledgements
Thank you, Jaideep Kandhuja, for sparking my thoughts on the theme of cultural tradition and tech.
Thank you, David, The Skeptics Kaddish, for your constant poetic support and encouragement.
And thank you, the reader, for being here.
LesleyScoble.com 
Leave a comment