Arctic Expedition by Dane Karnick

Stupendously alone

The Franklin vessel sleeps

Beneath the fathoms

 

Of Victoria Strait

As sonar reveals 

Its old resting place

 

With its crumpled bow

Snatched from the world

When ice ingested the ship

 

Forcing its crew to walk

Across miles of fatigue

Stuck between their bones

 

While each man fell into

The mausoleum of snow

With fierce inertia.

 

Dane Karnick grew up by the Colorado “Rockies” and lives near Seattle.  His poetry recently appeared in Here/There, Bookends Review, Eunioa Review and Indiana Voice Journal.  Visit him at www.danekarnick.com.