New Ernest Shackleton Poem Discovered By Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition In Chile

November 9, 2008

The Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition has been giving a few interesting updates over the course of the last two days. The Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition is currently sitting (and waiting) in Puntas Arenas, Chile along with quite a few other South Pole expedition teams. While awaiting a departure date of Sunday or Monday, the team has been able to get out and do some research that has brought to light something quite amazing.

In 1916, Ernest Shackleton, while embarking on another polar expedition, happened to sign and date a book for a local citizen in Puntas Arenas. This in itself isn’t that noteworthy. Shackleton was a very big figure back in the day and spent many days lecturing and visiting with people that were curious to hear of his polar tales and discoveries.

What is interesting about this piece is that Ernest Shackleton actually composed a poem in the front of the book. This poem has probably never been published before, or was even known to exist, except to very few people, before Henry Worsley met up with the individual that owns it. Henry Worsley is the leader of The Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition and has been allowed to post this great poem on their expedition website. This may be the first and last time that you have the chance to read a truly original Ernest Shackleton poem. This poem is definitely cool and shows Ernest Shackleton’s creative side and delves into his previous adventure life. I am not sure if I have ever read much “adventure’ poetry, even though Rudyard Kipling and even Mark Twain dwelled in this area for a short time, but only a person like Shackleton can make you actually feel what they are feeling. It is an excellent piece.

Anyone know if more Shackleton poetry exists? I was not aware of his literary side, but he must know that side pretty good. This poem’s style and dictate would suggest that this is obviously not the first time he has written something of this nature-this is definitely cool, especially for a previous English and creative writing major like myself. Go check out the poem.

My favorite line happens to be the first:

We were the fools who could not rest

Thankfully, they didn’t!

The Matrix Shackleton Centenary Expedition will be tracing the same path as Ernest Shackleton’s 1909 Nimrod Expedition. Members of the 2008 expedition team wil be celebrating the 100th aniversary of the original Shackleton expedition. This expedition features members that are direct, or indirect, descendants of that first expedition in 1909. The team, while tracing Shackleton’s original journey to the South Pole, will be doing some scientific research into the effects of global warming on the Antarctic continent.

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