The Endurance

Part I: A Third Gathering

Brave men wanted

For hazardous journey

Low pay, bitter cold

Moths of complete darkness

Constant danger

Safe return doubtful

Great recognition in case

Of success

Ernest Shackleton

The south facing madman

Will try for a third time

To walk at then end of the world!

Five thousand responded for

A crew of thirty on a

Brave sailing ship

Along for the journey were sixty-seven

Of Canada's finest four legged ice runners

To speed...the men

And their dreams

Across...and alive!

From the years I have learned

Twice before I returned

Under stocked and overwhelmed

Lost what I sought

More seasoned and well prepared

The continent again I dare

To reach the pole again I drive

Let it be the end

This time alive!

Part II: To Stab the Sole of the World

South!

We sail with pride

Our keel will slice the ocean's heart with anger once more

Feel the wind at our backs, and our faces...

Already charred with frozen black!

We meet once again

My old foe South Atlantic

Spawn of jigsaw ice all around

The cracks closing in

Till there's no more

Imprisoned in this icy hell!

Here so close

To the land of last and barely found

For the winter we will batten down

Never given...

Honor to stab the sole of the world!

(Listing)

Free the ship with ax and pick

(Breaking)

Loot the ship with quick and wit

(Sinking)

Abandon ship...abandon ship!

What the ice shall take

The ice shall keep!

"She is gone...none more to say"

Ice gleaming sunshine

Five feet to the deepest blue

Part III: Run On Water

North!

We run to save our lives

The albatross and emperors

Have sung our due dirge

Warmth will keep our souls alive

We move with haste through

Jaws of cracked bergs

We haul small boats that carry life

We only have necessities as

Bare as our skin

Vile, the hide of ocean's dead

Flesh of the dogs

A pleasure filled sweet meal!

No dreams in brief sleep

In the midnight light

So terrified!

Hungry ice swallows me

Cold sheets argue louder now

They find we're so terrified

Follow no horizons seen

We row to where we do not know

Deception Isle, too many miles

On cracked numb black fists

Cold, a word no longer known

Far beyond the freezing snow drifts

Eat, we see in only dream

A cannibal's insanity

I see in thine eyes

Drink in the salt and misty rain

Still pushing north

To the Elephant's domain

There on the crashing walls

Of black jagged teeth

So unbelieved

Last land

We could ever see!

We will try to endure

(South Georgia our final try)

Will we ever meet again?

Where will we meet again?

Solo

Part IV: The Endurance Within

Two years of death yet all survived

Endurance had to be the key

On painted waters we awake to find

A day of wonders so divine

The Yelco awaits on the silent sea

Is thee, the angel of death that we see

This isle of life, now left behind

We leave nothing but our own demise

My loyal comrades never left my side

(Honest bravery)

In the black icy sea, the secrets and memories

She will always keep

(On land, on ice or on the stormy sea)

The endurance we have left behind

Endurance we will always find