Icebergs

Towering rolling floating mountains,
barren white monoliths of ice
riding gracefully up up on endless swells
Ancient ballet masters dancing
in stop to a soundless air,
to poise upon the crest with an artist’s pride
then sweep down into the trough
crushing all that moves below.
Stretching to the far horizon and beyond
these giants of the arctic sea
march round with threatening stance
frozen guardians, hailing no friends
for neither alien ship nor comrade-in-arms
can find safe passage.
And when paths cross
they crash together with thunderous roar,
grinding and smashing in mindless combat
til one succumbs to the greater force
and yields in broken splendor.
The victor moves on to rise again
on the shoulder of another swell
while the vanquished wallow helplessly
searching for new balance.