Measuring Permafrost
That day she drilled
A small hole
Through the peat crust
And peered in
The soil so warm
Swarms of microbes fed in frenzy
As if the planet itself were boiling
How long is the question
How long is the question
That keeps them up at night
His data was similar
The columns and rows
Sealed tight in the corner
Their lonely tent aglow
In the softening Arctic
Sleeping bags touching
Breaths bumped in torchlight
How long is the question
How long is the question
That keeps them up at night
© Brendan Bonsack
August 2022
Two Suns Once
Released October 2022