Kjell Espmark: 'Vi försökte ta oss till Kina'

 

We tried to reach China

via the Northwest Passage

under the command of Hugh Willoughby.

But the ship froze fast.

We heard the ice rear up in the dark

and the planking groan and shatter.

It took several moments for the gale

to turn us into statues of ice.

I myself am standing with one hand on the wheel,

the other raised, as if it had halted time.

I can lend you eyes of ice.