The Reluctant Discoverer

I bought my passage with honest weight, with cargo bound in rope

A chart of known blue distances, a simple, stubborn hope

To meet my father's winter-fire, to see his older face

To trade the sea for Greenland earth, a vow with no disgrace

Then storm-song cracked the daylight wide, and laughter filled the sail

The compass spun, the stars fell off, the world went blind and pale

The sea took charge like tyrant king, and I became its oar—

Not chasing glory's horn-call... just fighting toward a door

Three nights of teeth and darkness

Three dawns with nothing true

Then mist unrolled a secret—

And every eye stared through

"Land ahead!" - they screamed

"Drop the sail!" - they plead

"Green and warm—so close!

Let us leave a trail!"

They pointed to trees

To the water still

Calling - "Touch the shore!"

Crying - "Bend your will!"

I saw the slopes like open hands, no ice-claws on the sand

A place that smelled of living rain, of timber, wide and grand

My men said, "Just a morning—just a bootprint, just a fire,"

But wanting is a greedy god; it never tires of higher

I weighed the hull, the hungry season, the mutiny of cold

I weighed a father's waiting years against a tale retold

And in my chest two ravens fought—one bright with unknown skies

One dark with duty's iron beak, that pecked my heartbeat dry

If I turn, we gamble winter

If I land, we split the crew

If I chase that greener whisper

Who returns to what is due?

"Land ahead!" - they screamed

"Turn the prow!" - they plead

"Green and near—so clear!

We won't be your slave!"

"Take the gift!" - they begged -

"Storm paid full for this!"

"Write our names" - they moaned

Asking - "Don't dismiss!"

I wanted to be nothing more than steady hands on wood

A man who keeps one promise straight because he knows he should

But fate is loud, and fate is sly, it sets the world in reach—

A coastline laid like scripture, yet I would not preach

So I spoke the hardest order, soft as shame behind my teeth

"Hold course."

And felt the words fall heavy like a stone dropped into wreaths

Behind me anger rose like gulls, ahead the fog stayed dumb—

And somewhere west, the un-taken shore kept all it might become

We passed one shore, then passed the next—cold rock, then greener stain

Each time my crew turned wolf-eyed sharp and begged me once again

I held the oaths like iron law, not flinching—counting cost

One landing buys a hundred risks, and winter takes what's lost

When Greenland finally took our keel, relief was not a feast—

It tasted like a salted cure, a victory decreased

And in the hall, when tongues grew bold, I heard the judgment stir

"The man who saw a world begin... and chose not to confer."

"Land ahead!" - they screamed

"It's last chance!" - they plead

"Green and wide—alive!

Do not miss this glance!"

"Take the shore!" - they begged

"Let the future start!"

"Name the bay" - asked they

Tearing me apart!

If history loves the wandering foot, then let it pass me by

I saw the edge of all the world, beneath a western sky

I left the fame for other men, I let the legend fly

I brought my father home his son—and kept my promise dry