Final Payment

It was fifteen below when the gas ran out; It was fifteen below and the snow knee high. And the wind did sing, "I'll take everything!" He stepped into the blast (his name was Will Began), He stepped into the blast (two miles for one proud man); Could hardly breathe or see, but thought, "Won't take me." It was thirty below as the white form moved; It was forty below as the drifts increased; And the wind did sing, "Your name is Zero!" He lunged into the blast (his name was Will Began) The dreams of life amassed (one mile for one good man); His eyelids stiffed to freeze, no feel in feet or knees, Just breathed and stumbled free, and thought, "Not me!" It was sixty below and the land was white; It was sixty below, not a thing in sight. One massive sheet of white rippled, stretched out far, And nothing alive moved, nor truck or car. In a splendid house at the edge of town, Its tiered lights glowing, its swept wings free, Will Began spun his wife around, Said, "The house is now ours! Don't cry me!" _________________________________ I wish there was a category for courage and determination.