Avalanche Poem by Les Littleford

Sometimes the frostbite still tingles
And the memory clicks into gear
After 44 years I still hear the shadowy scream
As Simon flew batlike over my head
And I
Seconds later
Screamed upwards.
Fighting needle sharp
Spiralling swirling Spindrift,
Combating the mind numbing
Finger freezing
Cold
It was about midnight when time seemed to stop
Wondering when
If
The light would ever come.
My mind played games
As the wind howled
And we lived our individual nightmares
Separated by darkness
Connected by fear and rope
Dreaming and dozing
Fighting for balance
Recalling
With horror
The terrifying roar





Through eighteen freezing
Endless hours until
Like spiders dangling on lifeline threads
The rescue appeared through the mist
To lower us to the valley floor.
Hot drinks
Suspicious media
Grateful friends
And
Eventually
Avalanche invaded
Restless
Sleep.