THE NEVER-ENDING POEM

Terra Nova -40

a free verse tribute to captain Robert Falcon Scott and his team of explorers in response to Dr. Jackie Greenwood’s challenge “frozen”

In your death’s discovery was made. Antarctica once a fertile forested ground Joined with other continents, Not this barren, inhospitable frozen wasteland Unforgiving of the adventurer’s trespass.

The discovery in the polar plateau Etching your name the “Great Polar Journey” Across its thousand kilometre plane, Bringing back with you important Biological, Zoological and geological discovery.

Words so quickly falling from the heated mouths Of critics, in time, forced to eat them served cold, From their plates of icy words.

Not as cold as the -40 degrees the exploration team Had suffered, some sacrificing their lives To save their more able crew.

An order unheaded for dogs and supplies Would have saved these men, From their unforgiving frozen demise.

Even in this time, vindicating all of blame, Taken upon themselves in the explorers Humble farewell letters of impending death.

Accolades for hero’s soon found the funding So desperately needed to see its journey Finished on time, to plant their flag for a stingy British Empire Only to find a well funded Ronald Amundsen and his Norweigan team Had made it there before them. “The worst had happened”

An unhonoured honoured achievement, paid for In the explorer’s freezing cold blood.

A tribute to Robert Falcon Scott… Edward Adrian Wilson… Henry Robertson Bowers… Edgar Evans… Lawrence Edgar Grace. “Titus” Oats. Who’s well-known line was entered Into Scott’s diary of final entries… “I am just going outside and may be some time” Oats with frostbitten feet walked to his death to unburden Scott, Wilson and Robertson. Evans had already died.

Thank you Dr. Jackie Greenwood for tagging me in your Never-ending Poem challenge “Frozen” read Jackie’s poem here…

All started by Martin Rushton The rude poet with his Never Ending Poem chain. And in the tradition of this very long chain. I humbly tag some Titans from the world of Medium… Jackie Ann Paul Mullinger Sydney Duke Richey Imad Kimmy Tao IMΛBӨПG FΛMIПЦ to present to this world of poetry, your talented visions of “exploration”… Thank you and please excuse any repeat prescriptions. J.

Thank you, Martin Rushton and the #sharethelove team for giving my words a platform. Thank you all for reading and your valuable time. J.