Baby Dragon Webset

On September 1, 2008, Hurricane Gustav made landfall in Louisiana. Damage was felt as far north as Alexandria and all along the coast of Louisiana. Here in Baton Rouge where I live, we saw sustained hurricane 1 winds of 78 mph with gusts up to 91 mph. The winds fell many trees, knocking out power to more than 2 million households across the state. About 90% of East Baton Rouge parish lost power after the Hurricane. My house was without power for 13 days. With nothing to do but eat, talk, and sleep, I spent some time writing. I finished my story, Mai's Chi. But I also wrote these poems.

September 1, 2008

It was a quiet Monday morning
as the hurricane rolled in
All the hustle and bustle had ended
Now the waiting would begin.

We waited through the morning
hardly a cloud or a breeze blew in
We continued our daily routine.
We worked like it would never begin

And then a boom sounded
vibrating through the house
probably a transformer
but it didn't affect our power or us.

And like an omen to what's coming
the power flickered then shut off
sending us into darkness
but that was not enough

The outside grew ominous,
the sky filled with dark clouds
Winds gusted through the rafters
Mighty oak trees fell down.

Electric lines were yanked from houses,
Roof shingles blew around
Flagpoles became missiles
And no one could utter a sound.

In the houses, we just stood and stared
At the destruction Gustav did wrought
We prayed for our safety.
We prayed that deliverance was brought.

And days after the storm did pass,
and cleanup did begin
We sit and count our blessings,
While we pack and prepare again.

13 Days

It’s been 13 long days
Without the luxury of power
But we’ve got candles for lights
And ice cold showers.

We’re cooking our meals
On a small propane stove.
It’s just like camping,
So I have been told.

At night we can’t see
Very much in the dark
So we carry our flashlights,
Hoping we don’t spark.

The gasoline that fuels
The generator on the porch
If it lights up the generator,
The house’ll be one huge torch.

We’ve got nothing to do
But watch the squirrels run
Everywhere I go
I hear the generator hum.

The neighborhood has become
One large family.
We’re looking after each other.
With grand hospitality.

When across the ravine,
What do I see?
A team of workers
Repairing our electricity!

Electric Party

Come on over!
Gather around!
You’re all invited
To the biggest party in town.

Entergy is here!
And other companies
They’re working so hard
To restore our electricity.

No more dark days
No more pitch black nights
We soon will have power
Soon we’ll have lights.

So go tell your neighbors
There’s no need to wait.
It’s time to party.
Let’s celebrate!

What to do?

I’m stumbling in the dark
I can’t see my way
We lost all our power
From Gustav today.

No more flicking the switch
No more ice cold food.
I’ve lost all my power.
Gustav was so rude.

No more music, no more ’puter
No more games or TV.
I don’t know what to do
Without my electricity.

Maybe I’ll read.
Or maybe I’ll write.
Or maybe we can talk
To each other all night

There must be something
That we can do.
To pass away the time
And to entertain us, too.

So take out the Scrabble,
Find Nancy Drew
And when all that’s done
Let’s go make new friends, too.