ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Everest - a Time to Pause

The Mount Everest Sherpas have called a halt to this year's climbing season after 16 of them were recently killed in an ice fall. Not everybody is happy.

It's over for another year - albeit somewhat early,
And wealthy Westerners are turning tail - aggrieved, and surly.
They paid a hundred grand, or more, to be a little hero.
They're coming home with blistered feet from brand new boots - and zero.

Perhaps it isn't zero, though. A lesson might be learned
About who gets the treasure chest, and who gets simply burned.
The Sherpas shoulder all the work at meagre rates of pay.
It's taken sixteen deaths but now, at last, they have their say.

Why should they keep on working with their hearts bowed down with grief?
Surely they've a right to mourn, to seek some scant relief?
So you didn't climb the Big One, and you feel you've done your dough?
You've done a course in Cultural Awareness, don't you know?

I do not have much sympathy for those with cash to splash
On a narcissistic venture that is just a frantic dash
For a little fame and glory, for a feather in their caps.
They then go home to luxury, and they toss the Sherpas scraps.

No, let the Sherpas mourn their dead. They're asking precious little.
Are we so fat and bloated, are our egos quite that brittle?
Everest will still be there next year, with all its strife,
And if they can't afford a second crack at it...that's life.

Stephen Whiteside 26.04.2014

The Nepalese call the mountain " Sagarmatha " The British gave it the name " Everest " after George Everest, the Surveyor -General of British India. Old George's name was actually pronounced " EEv-rist " which is a pain because that would mess up your metre in the second last line.


It's a familiar story Stephen, what about all those movies where " the natives " carry the packs for the boss bwanas, and of course the natives, we are to understand, are feeble things who run away at the first sign of trouble, leaving the tough and undaunted explorers with their pith helmets and immaculately coiffured lady friends to defeat the nasty savagery of the wild unknown, without the need of the packs it seems. I guess those mountain climbers might see themselves as stars in a Jungle Jim movie. Doesn't help the poor Sherpas much.

Great subject Stephen - very well expressed - I agree with your sentiments.

You may well be right, Neville.

Thanks, Rod.

A TRUE STORY.

Don't ask a Nepalese person if they have been to Everest.

I did.

"No! The effing mountain is up the other end of the effing country! Do I ask you if you have been to the effing Gold Coast? No! Why do you westerners always ask if we have been to the effing mountain?"