Donner Party

Set off to scale the mountains far,
A path written down to go between.
Days of perilous journeys and adventure,
Into the frontier so wild.
Across lies a new ocean of blue,
To distant to be reached before.
The party sets out from civilization,
Taking with them the words of another.
Across plains of endless grass sea,
Into the lands of beasts which roam.
The mountains seem to grow with each step,
Beauty in stone that touch the heavens.
The scaling begins, climbing into the unknown,
Clouds darken as the winds chill.
Snowfall blinds the sight of anything ahead,
To set camp is the only option.
Stormscape pulls from time,
The food supply depletes further.
True hunger begins to roam,
Desperately searching for something to satisfy.
Starvation brings out the demon inside,
A ravenous feast upon the weak.
No begs are allowed or mercy given,
This is a primal need forced upon man.
The dire winter relents and releases,
The climb down holds many regrets.