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.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2008

Poem

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Bickerstaffe Avatar
November 27, 2008 at 7:51 AM
Great tension and release... superb development and expression. Well done my friend! Best wishes, Keith
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