THE FLOOD

'Twas spring and the snow was melting, The river began to swell,
The Council gathered to decide, How best the word to tell.
The houses would soon be flooded, And lives might soon be lost.
Action was needed urgently, To save them at any cost.
At the farm of Henry Edgar, Flood water had reached the barn;
"Release the horses," he shouted, "Before they come to harm.
"Harness the best team," he ordered, "We'll head for higher ground,
No room for extra baggage, Liz, We leave right now for town."
One of the team was a mother, Of a fine young frisky colt;
But to fight his way through the water, For him there was little hope.
They guided the team and the wagon, Up high on safer ground;
And hurried down in a rowboat to, Rescue people in town.
A day and a night they labored, As the waters continued to rise,
Then the order was issued from council, To flee the countryside
"Just one bundle allowed per person," An official ordered one wife,
So she tossed back the bundle of clothing, Worth so much less than a life.
They leaped from housetop to lifeboat - Watched homes disappear in the surf, Then a glimpse in her tied up bundle showed, The loss of her greatest of worth.
In the moment of panic at rescue, In the confusion of whirling scud,
The bundle that held her baby had, Disappeared in the swirling flood.
The wagon - axle deep in the water, Henry Edgar's team pressed on,
The ration of hay growing smaller, 'Ere long it will soon be gone.
As they headed north and westward on, They took a last look at the farm,
And noticed the baby colt had left, The knoll nearby the barn.
In the wake of the trail of wagons, Many animals faltered and died,
In their struggle through the deep waters, That flooded the countryside.
High spots on the passing landscape, Held the remnants of horses and cows;
Where they'd fled from the rushing waters, For safety to hill's brows.
From one such group of animals, A bobbing head appeared -
Swam straight for Henry's wagon, The family stared as it neared.
A whinney from the team's leader, Made every hope leap high;
Yea - her colt had found her, Brought a tear to every eye.
The plains of Kansas behind them, A homestead led them up north,
They praised and named him "Highwater," For his courage in going forth.
For many a year on the prairie, A horse of distinction was he,
After that fateful trip to Alberta, In nineteen hundred and three.
(This poem was created by a Grade 12 student in response to a class
assignment. This story is based on his grandfather's experience.)