Friday, November 2, 2012

Shackleton Poetry Slam!

The "Boss" himself made a special appearance tonight, thanks to Jack Martin and his impeccable impersonation of Ernest Shackleton. Jack hosted what could easily be the very first South Georgia / Shackleton Poetry Slam.  The poetry slam topped off a pleasant day of heading north over relatively calm seas.

Jack Martin as "The Boss"


Turns out Shackleton was a bit of a poet as you can see for yourself from this poem he wrote:

"Yes boys, we will be home again, but our hearts will still be faithful to this Southern land of ours. Though we wander in English meadows 'mid the scent of English flowers, when the soft southerly breeze shakes the blossom away from the thorn, and flings from the wild rose cup, the shining gift of the morn;

"And when the scarlet poppies peep through the golden wheat, as the stronger winds of autumn march in with heavier feet; and when the fields are snow clad, trees hard in a frosty rime, our thoughts still wander Southward, we shall think of the grey old time;

"Again in dreams go back to our flight with the icy floe... we shall dream of the ever increasing gales, the birds in their Northward flight; the magic of twilight colours, the gloom of the long, long night...

"And when, in the fading firelight, we turn these pages of o'er, we shall think of the times we wrote therein by that far off Southern shore. With regret we shall close the story, yet ever in thought go back... through the grip of the frost may be cruel, and relentless in its icy hold, yet it knit our hearts together in that darkness stern and cold."

-Ernest Shackleton

And below some additional photos from the journey:


The seal is saying, "this way.... come along!"

Plancius floating in the bay during a hike ashore
When they said visibility was low they meant it!
A skier comes out of the mist.
A break in the clouds.
Carving the snow wheel to help check for crevasse and avalanche danger.
Jamming out on the rear deck to "It's raining men..."
Meeting the Plancius crew in Fortuna bay after finishing the crossing.

A replica of the James Caird at the South Georgia Museum.
Check out some interesting footage about this boat, and how if differs from the REAL James Caird here.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX9MIZN8uhw









No comments:

Post a Comment