LEWIS AND CLARK AND ME

What fun t’would have been! Oh, what a lark
To have traveled along with Lewis and Clark
On their "Corps of Discovery" exploring the west.
President Jefferson put them to that test.
"Explore the land, meet its people and plants.
Learn its animals, too, from small to giants.
And, as you explore, search out a way through
From the Mississippi west to the ocean so blue."
The task before them: explore the unknown!
If they did it, would they ever get back home?
But they were determined and gathered their crew
Of brave men and skilled, about forty-two.
If I’d been there I’d work hard as I could
To help cut down trees and carry the wood
For building the keelboat and dugout canoes.
Then we packed ‘em tight full of things we’d use:
Our food, tools, weapons and extra shot,
Medicinal herbs, kegs of whiskey, a cooking pot.
Gifts for the Indians living round river’s bend
So they’d know we came – not as foe – but as friend.
Captain packed compass, his log, quill and ink.
"There’ll be no room for us," I began to think.
But in 1804, on the thirteenth of May,
Up the great Missouri River we were on our way.
It was hard dangerous work keeping boats upright
‘Gainst that swift current we had a real fight.
But, we did it, and traveled farther each day.
I was look-out for dangers along our way.
I warned of rocks that could wreck our small craft,
Wild animals or low hanging trees fore or aft.
Once, when I daydreamed, a tree broke our mast
And the boat capsized. I had failed at my task!
I was so ashamed, but all hands were saved.
After that, I was careful and better behaved!
Not many weeks out, Ol’ George got a fever.
He died, and we buried him near-by the river.
Some days our journey was a drag, so boring,
Through cold wind and rain that was pouring,
All day "Push the boats" to move west toward the sea.
Other days were exciting, even for me,
To watch oceans of grass, swooping birds, wildflowers,
Bison, eagles and jackrabbits for hours!
But, the best part of all were the Indians we met.
Hostile Sioux and Blackfeet, I’ll never forget.
Some tribes wanted whiskey and guns in trade.
We had none to spare, so we were afraid
To stay long with the Missouri, the Oto or Teton.
We just left some gifts and kept travelin’ on.
The Mandans sheltered us from winter’s cold wind.
We helped enemy tribes make peace again.
Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman, was our scout.
Her people sold us horses for our mountain route.
The Nez Perce on the western mountain slopes
Helped us once again to build boats.
Then we set out on our travels once more,
West, following Columbia River’s shore.
Mid-November, 1805, we got our first view
Of the beautiful Pacific Ocean so blue!
That had been our goal, for two years and more,
And in early December, we arrived on its shore!
We had traveled a year and a half from home
Over four thousand miles to this place we had come!
We thanked God and rejoiced in our success,
But we knew now there was no river route west!
Between the Mississippi River and the Pacific coast
Those rugged mountains stood like a ghost
To challenge, with danger, starvation or fright,
Travelers foolish enough to brave their height.
The Clatsop people on the Pacific’s shore
Sheltered us there through a winter once more.
They taught us to fish. Oh, the glorious taste
Of grilled fresh salmon! None went to waste.
When the rivers ran high with melting snow,
We turned our boats east and started to go
Back home to report all we’d seen and done.
Our "Corps" had traveled the unknown – and won!
Up the Columbia and over the mountains we sped.
Now we went faster knowing what lay ahead.
Then down the Missouri from its source to where
It joined the Mississippi. We had started there!
It was September ‘07 when we got back home
And we all declared we would ne’er again roam.
But we did!
Some traveled back west as trappers or guides.
Others roamed as miners or traders of hides.
And me, I traveled the longest route,
‘Cause when my imagination ran out
I went back to the future year 2003.
‘Twas back from discovery to real life for me!

5/29/2007 - mshr
Written following a visit to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center,
Camp River Dubois, Hartford, Illinois

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