To Exxon a year later
Number of the 23 species seriously depleted by the 1989 Exxon Valdez
spill that have recovered -- 1
Harpers Index, September 1997
You brought new meaning
to robber baron.
Taught us how to stare
cold as breath on Tundra,
pump frozen sod primed with promises
even Arctic fox knew
were lies. Your sleek mukluks
gave you away. Told us
pipeline, tankers,
lawyers slapping our backs in bars,
buying free drinks,
all would bring
sadness
even dutiful glaciers couldn't scrub
away. We followed
your flowing tracks,
our backs to the rising sun,
itself giving way to night.
We tromped black ice,
piled oily otters, seals, terns
cheek-high. Set them ablaze,
watched the pyre
outshine frosty dusk.
Our breath froze white
on the darkened beach. That night
we burned ice to stay warm.
Timothy Pilgrim