2006-03-26

617. Pack-ice

pack-ice all around...
among the icebergs ahead,
is that a mountain?

5 comments:

Masago said...

This "pack-ice" haiku is based on an event that occured when Shackleton's group were stuck in pack ice during the winter of 1915-1916. At one point they were headed straight toward what at first they thought was a mountain on the horizon. It turned out to be a giant iceberg apparently stuck on a shoal. Luckily at the "last minute" the ice pack they were on drifted around the frozen behemoth (the last minute was in reality several weeks).

Anonymous said...

you seem to have captured a good bit of the story with these few words. very nice :)

Pat Paulk said...

It's amazing the stamina those guys had. Or, maybe shear will to survive. Vaughn should "on" in the last line be "or"?

Masago said...

Thanks guys!

Pat, no I hadn't intended "or". But you've pointed out a weakness in my wording. I have revised it from:

pack-ice all around...
is that a mountain ahead,
on an island?

...to:

pack-ice all around...
among the icebergs ahead,
is that a mountain?

Thanks,
~Vaughn

polona said...

thanks for the ku and the explanation... some story!