Tom Crean – A Poem by Ronnie J. Smith.
I recently wrote an article about Ronnie J. Smith’s success in having Aeronautical Waypoints, in Antarctica, named after Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ponies, and Roald Amundsen’s sled dogs. It was during correspondence at this time that Ronnie shared with me, one of his many wonderful poems, written in honour of the Irish Giant – Tom Crean.
The poem is taken from one of his excellent poetry collections, which is entitled The Last White Ruby: The Vanishing Polar Circles, and among the many other poems are The Explorers, Shackleton, To The Sled Dog and Sonnet To The South Pole Ponies, to mention but a few.
“I often thought when working in the polar environment, how I wish others could see and experience what I was experiencing. This book of poems allows me to give a glimpse of that experience. I was, and still am, very grateful for being able to spend so much time within these arid, icy and pure spectacles of nature. It was easy to be inspired once the work of the day had passed. It is similar to the other poetry books I’ve written in that the underlying spirituality of the “place” is consumed by external forces acting upon it. These constant dynamics make writing about it a challenge and a satisfying endeavor.” – Ronnie J. Smith.
“I confronted the many faces of the Arctic and Antarctic, spanning that diversity sometimes in a matter of minutes. I often felt thrust into breathtaking polar panorama. My experience has led me to its natural and sleeping beauty; and compelled me to write for and from this soul, still wild and fragile.” – Ronnie J. Smith.
The roiling sea to the frozen bight.
The silver throats of waves delight!
The silver throats of waves delight.
With thanks to Ronnie J. Smith.
Scott’s Ponies and Amundsen’s Dogs immortalised in the Southern Skies.
The names of the many great Antarctic explorers of the , are well known, widely documented and duly remembered. The feats of Amundsen, Scott, Shackleton, Worsley, Crean and Wild, to mention but a few, still evoke passion, admiration, pride and indeed much discussion and debate.