Franz Josef Glacier

The mighty Thor
Puffs up his thorax
Over and above
The seismic silhouettes
Of these dark stark rocks, set
Against a cloud-skeined sky,
As the white light of Sunna
Blinds the human eye.

Thor acts.
Raging against the giants
He blows an icy blast
That spews from molten cheeks
When
The video motion stops
The thunderous flood
Is freeze-framed.

Cascading water
Held to the drop
Folds of white clinging
To the valley between
While
Below the frame
Grey-water gabbles
Over greyer stones.

People from today mingle
Listening to the shingle
Reflecting on these symbols
And pray.

New Zealand, 2011