Sprightly daughter of the mighty hills
you were born transparent
and vulnerable
Now, occasional subcutaneous detritus
betrays your black opacity.

The parasitic halogen light
has driven out the silver moon
from your lap.
The yellow pinpricks
are like television to my mind.

Chained by stone banks and hovels
back broken
by concrete and steel
listless defeated mother
silently swallowing the poison
that is ravaging your womb.

Yet the other day
foot board flying over you
when I turned my head
I saw birds spelling victory
gliding across your depths