“The Ice-Floes”

Description

The Eagle sails for the ice and sends out sealing parties. The crews find many animals. After several successful expeditions, the singer and colleagues are unable to find the ship. Some eventually find their way back, but 60 die

Notes

Not traditional, not true, and not a song. As written, the poem cannot be set to music, and the event, while similar to some actual events (see, e.g., the several "Greenland Disaster" songs), was made up by the author.

Don't ask me what induced Ryan and Small to include it in their book. - RBW

References

  1. Ryan/Small, pp. 59-62, "The Ice-Floes" (1 text)
  2. BI, RySm059

About

Author: E. J. Pratt
Earliest date: 1962 (Pratt, Here the Tides Flow)