In 1918 a cold colder than cold
the year began with ice
spread from mainland out

around the islands in the bay
attached to each other
a frozen sheet clear to Nantucket

an old salt said you could hitch up a two-horse
wagon, fill ‘er up with coal
and drive straight across to Fairhaven

three schooners ice-trapped voyages stalled
aboard the Warren B. Potter a sailor jumped ship
walked over to Pasque Island then on to Woods Hole

got a trolley to Falmouth vowed to become a farmer
another schooner pushed in heave and haul of moving ice
landed on Penikese's shore        the crew

huddled on board        gazed at the strange group
eyeing their misery
offering food and warm room comfort

Captain and crew choose to stay
on board the sound of hammering
echoes across the marsh

as ship carpenters repair the damage
and the sailors chop the ice from the lines
they wait for thaw

for copper bottomed tugs to break
through and pull their ship away
from this blighted land