Phew! Poem by Mary Champion

The subject is ‘Phew! '.
Am I hot or relieved?
Ideas are few,
here is what I achieved.

When Evel Knievel made one of his daredevil jumps,
with no broken bones, just minimal bruises and bumps-
as he landed, wheels first, terra-firma securely regained,
was he punching the air in delight? Or was he more restrained?
Did he take a deep breath, thanking God that he'd come safely through,
express his relief with one simple word - namely 'Phew! '?

Columbus was warned that the earth was undoubtedly flat,
that he'd fall off the edge if he chose to behave like a prat.
But still he set out for the East - sailing into the West.
They'd predicted the worst, but he held out and hoped for the best.
So when he made landfall, without falling into the void,
was he whooping and cheering to show he was well overjoyed?
Or did he, with calm understatement, turn round to his crew
and lifting an eyebrow, laconically aspirate - 'Phew! '?

As sinners descend into Hell where eternal fires burn;
regretting the lessons they flunked that are too late to learn,
as they witness the roasting and basting with horror filled eyes,
going deeper and deeper inside, as the temperatures rise,
do they scream out for mercy, demented by panic and pain?
do they beg one more chance, promise never to do it again?
Or do they, accepting their fate as no more than their due,
wipe the sweat from their brow, shrug their shoulders and just murmur - 'Phew! '