Adventure

One night in depths of coming time, with lamps aglow,
     We wandered far down haunted lanes and hellish trails
In search of priceless treasure surely there, or so
     The stories said, and on we marched with spades and pails

Until the clouds engulfed the moon and swallowed stars
     And, flickering from noxious fumes, our lamps went out.
And there we stood, both lost and cold, aware that bars
     Of death were grinding near and closing round. Though stout

Of heart, we could not quell our fear. In truth we were
     Not heroes more than men. I led the troop, so placed
Because I'd traveled many roads. Behind, a blur
     Of faces. Last was Magnisons's, his smile erased.

How could I see him midst a blackened world? A light
     Of cutting rays he held aloft. Where did he find
This wonder? In his bag of tools designed for right
     Escape from every peril. Never was he blind

In danger's grasp, good Magnison, our Master of
     Solutions. All around he shone his potent beams
And found we'd come into a pit. Sheer rock above
     Enclosed our path. It was a place of evil dreams.

Behind we heard a mounting wail of predators.
     Our doom seemed sure, but Man of Beacons did not quit.
Triumphantly, he lifted from his sack of stores
     A gleaming gun. He aimed it upward, fired, and split

The gloom with thund'rous sound. Our rocky barricade
     Did loudly quake. Then from the barrel rose a dark
Projectile ominous that pierced the night and made
     A noise of whistling, then of grinding shrill and stark,

Like metal wheels on rails. Said Magnison, "The drill
     Plants deep an anchor." Trailing down the cliff there came
A line so pale we had not seen it. Now with skill
     He grasped the lowest strand and sideways pulled its frame

So that it spread apart, and we could see unbent
     Some rungs which he could climb. From slender cord
Emerged a ladder strong to furnish him ascent,
     Each step created by his reaching hands. Out poured

Our cheers. He gave to me the gun and said, "Just pull
     The switch to make it spit out bullets." This in hand,
I sprayed the path behind with deadly shot so full,
     It kept the beasts at bay. So now in haste our band

Began to scale the wall. A fog descending hid
     The light our leader held, so none could see the height
That he must win. But undeterred, each rose amid
     The eerie mist until he reached the top, a sight

That gladdened every heart. We gathered at the rim,
     Relieved that we were saved from foul pursuers. Yet
we still were prisoners of wilderness. What grim
     Calamity might lurk ahead? But free of debt

To fear, our Magnison drew from his bag a small
     Device. What could it be? He put it to his mouth
And blew with all his strength. A penetrating call
     Soared deep into the skies beyond, both north and south,

Both east and west. He said, "I'm summoning the owls,
     A swooping race whose higher wisdom turns the tide
Against all forces of despair. These giant fowls
     Will save us." Dubious I felt, so I replied,

"But why not beckon eagles, very famous for
     Deliverance." "It's dark," he said and looked at me
Askance. Now silent wings flew down and quickly bore
     Us far away to lands remote from night and free

Of enemies. Then we rejoiced, for where we'd come,
     Secure in our new home, we'd never more see strife.
Yet did we find a treasure rare? Oh yes, for from
     The teeth of grinning death we fled and gained more life.

2017