I hate to chortle at the sound of broken laughter,
Just like I refrain from weeping when dancing smoke fills my eyes . . .
But when dogs mourn alone,
I chafe my hands with the cold of tears of solitude.
Monuments and cairns I crave among the icy
Terrains, where dogs’ paws leave eternal marks —
The print-marks of an important visit,
Evidence of life on desiccated earth.
On board The Fram they sailed majestically
In the beginning,
Before joining a steam of blizzards they escaped from,
Returning home, northwards, gelid and depressing,
For a funeral of dogs,
The ceremony of age,
Attended largely by silent yaps of strayed thunder.
Categories:
amundsen, tribute,
Form: Ode
I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.
—Groucho Marx
Adventure is just bad planning.
—Roald Amundsen
Must Be A Carnival
Lady, what did you see
advertised? Boat leaves the dock.
Your apparel, a shock.
Going cruis’n…cruis’n you say.
No time
to be lose’n.
Lady, did you pack light? …for
romantic nights. Take a peek
out the window. It’s after dark.
Tourists, look a bit screwy,
you’re near. Must be a Carnival,
it’s not.
This ship is a swing’n.
Everyone’s going out
for some drink’n.
You weren’t expecting
hot chocolate. Your Summer dress
blow’n in Alaskan winds.
The cold wrapping your legs
sans warmers. Your sandals
flopping upon the deck.
Lady, people are staring.
Have you beamed aboard?
Did someone blindfold you?
Were you buffaloed? Petunia,
are you dense? Pretense,
that you are at ease.
“I meant to dress this way.”
or perhaps it was a dare.
Daring for sure.
Lady, the ship looks a bit
lopsided,
with you.
Categories:
amundsen, travel,
Form: Light Verse
A Limerick for Eileen Manassian
A Tribute to Her Muse
Eileen had a Golden pen
Gifted by Roald Amundsen
Her incredible ink
Essence of ruby pink
Made manna drink on a ben
Categories:
amundsen, eulogy,
Form: Limerick
Little Benny Ben told Roald Amundsen
Let's go to South Pole with my pretty hen
The hen was very stocky
Came to Ben with gait low-key
Asked for a diary and a gel pen
Categories:
amundsen, fun,
Form: Limerick
Erster am Südpol
Geheimer Wettlauf mit Scott
Im ewigen Eis
Auf Rettungsflug für Nobile
Verschollen im Eismeer
----------------------------------------
First at the South Pole
In a secret race with Scott
In the eternal ice
On a rescue flight for Nobile
Missing over the Arctic Ocean
----------------------------------------
Primero en el Polo Sur
En carrera secreto con Scott
En los hielos eternos
En vuelo savamento a Nobile
Desaparecido sobre el océano Ártico
Note: Roald Amundsen (1872 – 1928), a Norwegian explorer of polar regions led the first
Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole (1910-1912). He was the first person to reach
both poles. Me was reported missingin at plane crash during a rescue mission for Umberto
Nobile in 1928 northwest of Bear Island in teh Arctic Ocean. Umberto Nobile (1885 – 1978)
was an Italian airship pioneer and general. He was injured when he crashed and rescued by
a Swedish pilot. Mussolini degraded him and Nobile emigrated first to the Sovjet Union,
later to the USA and to Spain. In 1945 he was rehabilitated and returned to Italy.
Categories:
amundsen, history
Form: Tanka
In the twilight of the snow gods
A twinkle-mist plays in the
Car-light express of a ten below day.
In the street a man rushes by--
Frozen--wishing that
Amundsen and his team
Would appear and take him onward.
When in the icy deep
The man secretly yearns to stand
Marrow to marrow
With the Antarctic pulse that
Held so much promise
For the ice-men of long ago.
"Mush."
Categories:
amundsen, adventure, passion,
Form: Free verse