Kept at Bay
Kept at Bay
They raced along the ice road on the bay.
It was a breakthrough! They were crude oil-bound
when they skidded off the path. The ice gave way —
since the ocean, liquifying day by day,
was loath to let trucks mount her back year-round.
They raced along the ice road on the bay,
flouting the chilly facts that might delay
their crossing. Since they weren’t on solid ground
when skidding off the path, the ice gave way
just as they closed in on their spoils. To pay
no heed to signs could sometimes get you drowned
while racing on an ice road. A melting bay
is often not enough for men to stay
on terra firma. No one heard a sound
as they skidded off the path. When the ice gave way,
did a pod of orcas snatch them? Were they prey
to polar bears? Tendrils of trouble wound
around them as they raced across the bay.
When they skidded off the path, the ice gave way.