This poetic docudrama in the form of an Epic poem was composed as a sort of reaction to the statue of Sir Edmund Hillary I saw in the Mall at Orewa in North Island, New Zealand. The statue of this great inspirational hero and mountaineer brought back memories of the Everest expedition talked so much about during my days in elementary school on the island of Barbados. So, there and then I had to capture this moment by paying tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary in the best way I know how, composing an epic poem with heroic quatrains with a rhyme scheme abab in iambic pentameter.

From my temporary home in Ohio, I sent a copy of this poem in the spring of 2007 to Zeke O'Connor at the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation in Canada. In thanking me for the epic poem on Sir Edmund Hillary, Zeke O'Connor said it was very thoughtful of me. I was very pleased when he sent me a picture of Mount Everest that has become the logo for the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation. This picture I shall always treasure for it is my keepsake. So. deep in my mind, I know that Sir Edmund Hillary would have received my tribute poem for him and, without doubt, he would have read it.

However, little did I know that by the time I completed writing this poem which took seven days to complete in the summer of 2004, the death of this global hero would occur 4 years latter, 2008.

Parameters were laid out as to how to proceed with the writing of this Epic Poem. It is essential to structure it around a time line and some sort of legendary framework. Also to formulate a central theme for the poem. The central theme in this poem is that there is an Everest in everyone's life
that can be conquered when all ten tenets for human living and conduct are omnipresent in any dreamer. Also to ensure that each stanza unifies the plot to its logical conclusion.

Stanza 1 provides as it were an introduction or prologue to the plot.

Stanza 2 gives a snippet of the Golden Age of Piracy (Piracy on the High Seas)

Stanza 3 provides a quick glimpse of the effects of World Wars I and II.

Stanza 4 is where we get an insight into the expansionists policies of Great Britain.

Stanzas 5, 6, 7, and 8 all point to the fact that peace follows when war ends. People become elated and look for enjoyable pursuits. In this case, exploration became the fore, in diverse ways as shown in these stanzas.

Stanzas 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 focus on some of the causes that brought about The decline of the British Monarchy.

Stanzas 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 give a picture of how the Monarchy regained its popularity due to the doings of George VI. The policies of this period were referred to as The Monarchys Brand New Clothes because of the paradigm shift in politics instituted by the tenacity of King George VI.

Stanzas 21, 22, 23 and 24 chronicle the death of George VI, the Coronation of his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. We see in these verses where the indivisibility concept carved out by the late king gave way to a new concept of the rise of the Commonwealth as we know it now under the new Queen (Elizabeth 11).

Stanzas 25 through 34 give insight into important events that took place during the decades of Queen Elizabeth II. As a young Queen on the Thrown, many British colonies gained Independence from Great Britain. Now playing on words here in this epic poem, Queen of overseas colonies, queen as in a colony of bees is part of the plot for the epic poem to emerge in the form of a legend created around the man whom the bees befriended because his beekeeping skills were impeccable. The Queen of the Colonies conferred on him the title of Sir. The queen of the bees gave him a good luck charm (a jar filled with Tuakau honey). The legend goes like this:

During the time when Britannia ruled the waves a man, from Taukau, a place in the British colony in Aotearoa (New Zealand) had many dreams, which he was shy to reveal to others. So he took long walks into the country side and talked to the bees about his dreams. He found an eager listening buzz among the bees, so he told them what he wished for; the first man to reach the highest peak on earth. The bees had a dream as well, which was that everyone should enjoy the sweetness of life (honey). So the bees told the dreamer that they would help him knock the bastard off (that is, the difficulties the dreamer would be confronted with in his thriving to make his vision come true) because his work of keeping their home has been so admirable. They would provide him with hovering wings, nerves of steel and megabytes of motivation but he must first accept certain conditions as laid out in the ten tenets listed on the honey jar. The bees were quick to inform him that he would encounter many hardships in his path all laid out before him like the beehive spiralling around him. He would undergo a baptism of earth, heat, rain, wind and ice.

The bees instructed him that the honey jar must only be opened when he reached his quest in the presence of a Sherpa and along with the gifts the Sherpa would offer to the gods of earth, wind, fire, water and consciousness then he should add his gift of honey from the jar thus ensuring his safe return to earth as the ambassador extraordinaire for all colonies. Thus the bees hinted to him that he would be knighted by the Queen. They continued with their prophetic statement that from every corner of the earth all people would know that because of the goodness found in Tuakau and honey from a jar so small there would be no mountain too high, hill or peak too steep, which they would not be able to conquer. All of this would result from him because he, as their inspirational hero would reveal to them by his behaviour the ten-tenets for successful living on earth. So the bees buzzed in the dreamer ears these ten-tenets:

1. Be a dreamer with a purpose and change the dream into reality

2. Be a nature lover and protect the environment

3. Be patient and mindful

4. Be courageous and resourceful

5. Be compassionate without showing shame

6. Be reflective and flexible

7. Be truthful and trustworthy

8. Be respectful and be a good listener

9. Be ever so humble with determination

10. Be loyal to any cause that is good

These must be imprinted on the heart for success to be achieved because they are all interrelated and feed on each other.

Stanzas 35 through 40 give an account of his ascent into the Himalayan air with his guide.

Stanza 41 is about his successful decent with his guide.

Stanzas 42 through 44 point to the fact that everybody, irrespective of the status in life, we have in some way an Everest to climb. All that is needed to overcome these challenges are guts, drive and faith in the Omnipotent as demonstrated by this great mountaineer. Then success is assured.

However, little did I know that by the time I completed writing this poem which took seven days to complete in the summer of 2004, the death of this global hero would occur 4 years latter, 2008.

I'm sadden on learning of the death of Sir Edmund Hillary, this global hero. Happy to know that his memory forever lives. We are all beneficiaries of the greatness of this inspirational hero. My condolences go out to his family and to the people of New Zealand.

Author: Paterika Hengreaves
Composed in Arkles Bay, New Zealand/Summer 2004