MARCH WHITE-OUT SNOWSTORM…SCHOOL’S DISMISSED

918


–by Orv Alveshere–

ED LOST SIGHT OF HIS HOUSE, BUT NOT HIS GOAL
Ed came to third grade in a one-room school…on his skis.
He bundled in coats, long johns and scarves so he’d not freeze.
His pair of skis was home-made, cut from one long board.
Both were home-cooked and bent, as that was all they could afford.
Skis served the purpose of getting him over the snow banks;
And taking skis off his feet took a couple of yanks.
Little Ed came to the country school for ABC’s;
Across snow-laden rural fields…on a pair of skis.

LITTLE ED ON TALL SKIS/SHORTY TOOK A SHORT CUT
That long pair of pine-board skis seemed to be twice his height;
And all nine students could recognize him at first sight
He had at least two miles of deep snowy fields to tread;
But he cut across, so it was just one mile for Ed.
Each pass packed the snow and left an indented trail.
His ski route defied the sun’s thaw, with shiny detail.
Ed’s mother, the students and the school teacher agrees;
The ideal way for Ed to get to school…was on his skis



SURPRISED BY SWIRLING SPRING SNOWSTORM
At recess they played outside, as they had that morning.
Spring thaws were pleasant. An hour later…without warning;
Sharp winds blew storm clouds that covered the afternoon sun.
Then a loud knock on the school door startled everyone!
It was a concerned parent who came to get his son.
They would soon be racing home with horses on the run.
“Class dismissed! Do you all have rides? And be careful, please.”
Little Ed had disappeared…on his home-made skis.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD GRADE
CONCERN AND FEARS BECAME REALITY IN ND
Snow storms brought a variety of consternation.
Direction loss and vertigo require determination
To arrive safely. Ed followed his hardened ski trail.
He plodded on in semi-darkness, but to no avail.
The old telephones rang from extended cranking
That signaled EMERGENCIES…Ed’s mother was banking
That neighbors would risk their life, due to her sobbing pleas.
Ed was lost in the white-out blizzard…on his wooden skis!

SEARCH AND RESCUE DURING WWII
PROGRESS LIKE HEN SCRATCH: 1 FORWARD, 2 BACKWARD
Several men responded with heavy clothes and teams.
They urged their horses on, although…dangerous, it seems;
Into the swirling snow with the minimal daylight.
They all hoped to find Ed and return safely that night.
It was March, which meant it would be dark around six;
Leaving only two hours, such a search and rescue restricts.
Their wives at home, by lantern light, were on bended knees
Praying they’d find little Ed, who was lost…on his skis.

EMOTIONAL DAY WITH STORMS THICK AS MERINGUE
THE TURNED-AROUND KID, AGAIN TURNED AROUND
As they drove to Ed’s home, not a trace of Ed was found.
Just a zillion snow flurries, racing with an eerie sound!
Meanwhile, Ed hit the school house, and again he turned around.
Shivering, he followed tracks and peered closely to the ground.
JUBILATION! Ed’s home, though technic’lly, he wasn’t found.
The wind had cleared the snow from Ed’s ski trail and hard-packed ground.
Ed survived, recovered, and suffered only a sneeze.
Others risked their lives to find Ed, who was heading home…ON HIS SKIS.



© Copyright 1997, all rights reserved, by Orv Alveshere, Fargo, ND