Where to begin with this man of the century,
Whose love of skiing as a Norwegian boy, he embraced,
Whose talents included the sciences and zoology,
Whose studies and travels, both, proved him an Ace.
He skied across Norway to participate in ski ‘tricks,’
He skied across Greenland, the first to explore it so,
He built the Fram, a ship that could freeze in the Arctic
And move towards the Pole with prevailing ice flows.
His Fram missions solidified his unique position,
And into political life, he, as a hero, was lauded.
But he declined political offices; his decision
Was to work as an Ambassador – for various causes.
Six hundred kilometres and Greenland’s interior mapped,
Six thousand to the North Pole, his the nearest lap.
June Edvenson 