Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Ancient Ground

III

I walk on ancient ground
soft above permafrost
absorbing
what drifts from the south

to the archipelago
cadmium and mercury
bio-diversity

footprints
polar bear, arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer
carbon
remain for years

there are beds of pebbles
on bedrock
- a table top

smoothed by ice
finished
and free under foot

like a filter
exhorbitant
depository of industrial detritus