Ice melt

On our Icelandic holiday we visited the Langjokull glacier, and actually got the chance to walk on the ice.  It's 200 metres thick, but last winter didn't bring the usual snow and there are concerns about climate change shrinking it. 


Ice Melt

Through vast flatlands of moss-covered lava,
Past the mountains of Mordor,
The monster truck trundles onto black-flecked ice; 
No pristine alpine glacier, this,
Its surface laced with volcanic ash,
Blackened like city sludge. 
Tentative, crampon-fitted, 
We step onto the glistening ice,
Stamping our spikes into the honeycomb,
The brave striding off like Arctic explorers,
Cowards keeping close to the truck. 
Striations crisscross the ice into a checkerboard,
Carving deep moulins, sinkholes, tunnels,
And slowly the glacier flows, 
Grinding the rock far below,
As we are warmed by the sun and hot chocolate. 


© Copyright 2026. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved.

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