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
exorbitant
depository of industrial detritus
