Now Begins the Reckoning

Now Begins the Reckoning

A poem that conveys my experience of hellish Helene.

Clay Chandler, spokesperson for City of Asheville's Water Resources Department, reported that had the auxiliary spillway at the North Fork Reservoir not functioned as designed, the dam likely would’ve failed. The area from Black Mountain to Biltmore Village would’ve been wiped out. In other words, I wouldn't have been here to write this poem.

The auxiliary spillway began operation only in 2021, built with foresight to guard against more extreme rain events due to climate change.

English

In the flooded land without water to drink
in the wake of hellish Helene
mad water water everywhere, see the houses sink
In the flooded land without water to drink
as terror runs unbound
mad water water everywhere, see the houses sink


That morning I watched the water come
close and closer to my front door
brown water water from uphill rushing by my home
That morning I watched the water come
then it backed away I don’t know why
brown water water from uphill rushing by my home


Down the street where neighbors dwell
the bulging creek invaded homes
swift water water had its way as water always will
Down the street where neighbors dwell
a mudlogged chair sat in the road
swift water water had its way as water always will


Not far the Swannanoa flowed
so fierce it snatched up trees and roads
damned water water took them wherever water goes
Not far the Swannanoa flowed
so fierce it snatched lives young and old
damned water water took them wherever water goes


Had the spillways not let water go
these tears I spill would not still flow
the earthen dam would have let go
the water would have claimed me
cruel water would have claimed me