MIRRORS OF LIFE
THE BALLAD OF YUKON JACK
IT'S 40 BELOW AND THE RAIN'S LIKE ICE
AND THE WIND CUTS LIKE SLITHERING STEEL,
AND LIVING IS HELL IN A YUKON PASS
WHERE NOTHING BUT NUMB CAN YOU FEEL.
THE SUN IS A JOKE, LIKE ONE LITTLE LIGHT
SET IN THE FROZEN SKY,
AND THE BLEAKNESS OF LIFE
STARES YOU RIGHT IN THE FACE
OFFERING YOU A NEW CHANCE TO DIE.
BUT THE DOGS ARE FAITHFUL, SUCH A COURAGEOUS LOT
THEY LIVE FOR THE FROZEN TRAIL
AND THEY FACE THE ICE AND FROZEN WIND
AND SOMEHOW THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T FAIL.
SO HERE'S TO A RACE THAT'S NEVER WON
IN THE HEART OF A YUKON JACK,
AND THE DOG'S KNOW IT WELL
AS THEY LIVE TO TELL
BEYOND DEATH IN THE ASTRAL BACK.
THIS IS THE PLACE OF ILL CONTENT
WHERE CHANCE HAS NOT GOT A NAME,
AND THE GOING OR COMING IS BASED UPON
EXACTLY HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME.
SO BE IT A RACE OR A DIATROD
THE STORY IS WRITTEN WELL,
IN THE SOULS OF MEN TOO COLD TO GRIN
IN THE NIGHT OF A FROZEN HELL.
SO I SET ME JAW AND I SPOOKED THE DOGS
AND THE SLED LIKE A NARROW BAND,
CUT THROUGH SNOW AND ICE AND WIND
LIKE GOD'S ALMIGHTY HAND.
AND I NARROWED ME EYES INTO TWO LITTLE SLITS
AS ME FURROWED BROW HUNG LOW,
FOR HERE IN THE YUKON IS THE ONLY LIFE
THAT A YUKON JACK CAN KNOW!
SO WHEN YOU BLEED ME AT MY DEATH
THIS WILL HAVE TO SUFFICE--
THAT YUKON JACK HAD NERVES OF STEEL
AND BLOOD AS COLD AS ICE.
HE DIDN'T SHIRK A MIDNIGHT GIN
OR A LADY IN WAITING THERE,
AND SOME SAY HE WAS A HELLUVA' MAN
WHO DIDN'T GIVE A DAMN OR A CARE.
EXCEPT FOR HIS DOGS, HIS DELIGHT
AND A SLED TO SLIDE BEHIND,
WITH A GOAL IN HIS EYE HE'D SET HIS TEETH
TO ALL ELSE HE WAS BLIND.
THEN CAME THE TIME THEY SAID HE DIED
OUT ON THE FROZEN TUNDRA ALL ALONE,
THEY SEARCHED FOR DAYS AND HAD TO ADMIT
THAT JACK AND THE DOGS WERE GONE.
WHAT THEY COULDN'T TELL, I'LL WRITE IT WELL
BE DAMNED IF YOU KNOW WHO I AM,
IF YOU OPEN YOUR EYE YOU MIGHT SPY
ME OUT THERE CARVING THE LAND.
JUST YUKON JACK AND ME REAL LIVE DOGS
AND A BEAR-SKINNED COVERED SLED,
I TELL YOU NOW YUKON'S ALIVE IN THE PLACE WHERE
THEY SAY HE'S DEAD.
A MAN'S GOTTA DO WHAT A MAN'S GOTTA DO
AND DEATH HAS TO STEP ASIDE,
FOR MEN LIKE YUKON DON'T UP AND STOP
JUST BECAUSE THEY UP AND DIED.
SO, HERE'S TO YOU WHO READ MY WORDS
WRITTEN BY MY ICY HAND,
WITH FROZEN FINGERS TOO NUMB TO FEEL
TO MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND.
BUT I'LL CHANCE BY FAR THAT I'M NOT A LIAR
AS THESE WORDS IN A HEART DOTH MAKE,
A MAN TAKE HOLD OF HIS OWN SOUL
WHEN A CHOICE COMES FOR HIM TO TAKE.
HE'LL RECALL YUKON JACK
IN THE DAYS OF HIS ICE COLD STORM
AND EVERY MILE THAT JACK DID TAKE
WILL BE A MEMORY TO KEEP HIM WARM.
THEPOETSKISS COPYRIGHT 2001
Comment On This Poem --- Vote for this poem
THE BALLAD OF YUKON JACK
THE BALLAD OF YUKON JACK
