Texans have (so far) not experienced widespread blackouts this winter. Still, many prepared for the worst heading into Winter Storm Landon. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Them Ol’ ERCOT Blues
beans, flour, sugar, oil
water won’t have to boil
toilet paper, gasoline
jerky for a quick protein
what else, what else, could get me through
the great ice storm of ‘22
a solar charger for my phone
my prepper list has grown and grown
since last year’s snowpocalypse
i’ve laid in mac and cheese and chips
tuna cans and tylenol
salsa jars, I’ve got it all
chocolate, band-aids, tea and coffee
for a treat, a little toffee
you ask me if I’ve flipped my lid
i ask you, do you trust the grid
and the greedheads who run and regulate
it for our bought and paid for state
i don’t, so though I know it’s futile
i’ve stored up both kit and caboodle
to while away the frozen hours
a-waiting on those earthly powers
to bring back
the light
Typewriter Rodeo airs each Friday on Texas Standard. Send us your ideas for a poem on 
