Jane Thomas
Arctic Insect Adaptations in Reykjavik
Lace-white butterflies once flew safe over snow
now they glide fearful over grey concrete. Etcetera
*
Meanwhile, across town in the ‘Marina Village’
(‘Port’ on maps printed before regeneration IX)
Giant beetles rove feed in the kitchens of new hotels
Ice lice infest memory foam beds sized for a King
Intoxicated red mosquitoes cloud mill over meltwater
Great crystal gnats swarm-suck on high-fat scraps
Furry moths fatten on tourists’ discarded designer down
(more frequent moulters than tufted duck or old eider)
And the flies. Flies. Swarm shrouds of flies.
Pitch Oil flies Great Ashwings
Black Bottles
Ice Blow Ticks
Frosty Banes
Fungal Feeders Cinders
Toxitockwings
Sucking on warm blood.
Spitting on cryonic flesh.
Coming earlier each year.