A traveller of great renown a theorist of repute

Planned a novel exploration by a most unusual route

He maintained the earth was hollow that his theory was quite sound

And that another world was waiting in the darkness underground

The sun he said was filtered light streamed in through a hole

Through which he planned to descend at the apex of the Pole

A galleon he'd charter with provisions for the trip

And one hundred men of stout resolve to navigate the ship

Sponsors queued and so accrued more funds than were required

And all agreed he was indeed the man they most admired

And so at last the date was set and

They cast off from the quay

The Mayor wept and a brass band played

For those in peril on the Sea

Well five months on and not

A word was heard of ship nor men

And all forgot or ceased to care what had become of them

Until at last a traveler passed a solitary soul

And found a rusty anchor chain frozen at the Pole