ice

EMPEROR

“The only Emperor
is the Emperor of Ice Cream”.
Wallace Stevens

Let’s get some
ices

currently spelled “iceSS”
the big esses there
to signify
exceSS

one fat lick
and you get
the instant brain freeze
you may not
have voted for
actually been asking
for

or,
iced in a trice,

may just be
three bullets point
blank through the face

catching
up with you
nine decades you
ducked them
but now they are here.

ice is melting
nothing
tragic
about it

dripping all over
the sidewalk, on
the tarmac

ice far colder, thinner
than blood

ice melting
seeping through all
that thick, arrogant armour,

armour
needing to be thrown
on the healing fire

thanks to
the traffic jam
on Everest

the road
to the summit
has
been closed

meanwhile
further to the Northeast
in landscape
unrecognisable

I sit at base camp
freezing to death
hoping to
catch a lift
to the world’s
second
top spot

to arrive
in good time

for my
great
debate with
the gods of snow,
death
and ice

who dwell
on the
highest
point
of K2

the rich people
playing, partying
on their sleek ship

findimg their icy
wonderworld
as advertised

pampered, noy
wanting for anuthing
in this
inhospitable place

every crag every floe
a blue-white diamonf

fevellinv in the thrill
of this place, their
Antarctica

the luxury, the excess
of this crisp, cold Summer

the explorer-enterpreneur
archetype so clinical
clear in this
palace of
reflection

so much
at home