Thursday, July 7, 2016

Two hydrogen, one oxygen

A throwback Thursday posting concerning H2O, a commodity not used recklessly by my Mam-maw Langston.  Water was a valuable resource to her and she conserved it wholeheartedly!

 Rain Barrel
My Mam-maw practiced water conservation before the term was coined,
“City water” she never wasted, and her efforts you ultimately joined,
Indoor plumbing was not the norm for her; buying water was a new concept,
Her bathtub was used sparingly and only to a very shallow depth,
Water from the well was plentiful for animals and washing clothes,
She used a wringer washer; she dutifully filled with a garden hose,
We helped her water her flower beds, one gallon paint bucket at a time,
Rain barrels she used long before they shipped on Amazon Prime,
As a teen I washed my hair there many days when the sun was hot,
Washing hair every day with city water; oh, definitely not!
A fifty-five gallon metal drum placed under the gutter downspout,
If you’ve never dunked your head into one, you’ve certainly missed out,
I’m not writing this to protest or prove my Mam-maw wrong,
I’m writing to proclaim that her personal convictions were strong,
If she were here today I’m sure she would abhor,
People buying water in bottles from the local grocery store.

Written:  6/11/2016   Tammy Harvey



1 comment: