High Choice - edit2

[dukealien]

High Choice

Two men ride bareback high above
a level polder, working manfully
to fix a windmill-generator.

Blades run wild, stripped gears
ignite old lubricants---black smoke,
a flaming halo traps the pair.

They hug, as men will in extremis.

Then one leaps for fear of burning
and one burns for fear of falling.

Grace.

Two men ride bareback, unprotected
high above a level polder
working manfully to fix
a windmill-turbine generator.

Blades run wild, stripped gears ignite
old lubricants---black smoke,
a flaming halo traps the pair.

They hug, as men will in extremis.

Then one leaps for fear of burning
and one burns for fear of falling.

Grace.

original version;


Two men ride bareback, unprotected
high above a level polder
working manfully to fix
a windmill-turbine generator.

Geartrains rupture, safeties crack---
blades whip, grease and insulation
blow black smoke,
a flaming halo traps the pair.

They hug, as men will in extremis.

Then one leaps for fear of burning
and one burns for fear of falling.

Grace.

Inspired by somewhat garbled reports of an incident.  "---" for em dash (borrowed machine).