Memphis Deep Freeze 2021
Nine days of deep freeze and snow
In Memphis,
Where we don’t have winterized reservoirs and pipes,
Snowplows and snow tires,
Snow boots and sleds.
Day five of no running water for me.
Day four of a bottled water shortage.
Day three of having a water source in a vacant unit.
Hooray.
Day two of a boil water advisory.
I boil the water I hauled upstairs.
Some restaurants close.
Day one of temperatures well above freezing.
Snowmen are melting
Streets are clearing
People are cheering.
Life in my world today is,
Bottled water for drinking and cooking.
Filling gallon jugs in the maintenance closet on main floor,
For flushing.
Let me tell you,
In my humble opinion,
Gravity flushing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
But the light at the end of the tunnel is getting near.
Sun is out, temperature is up,
Snow should melt,
Reservoirs should thaw,
Pipes should unfreeze.
Waiting to see what will burst,
Waiting to hear how long,
Until the faucets drip and toilets flush,
Again.
