DAVID MARK WILLIAMS

The Fight for Light

Let the dead wood lie. Let it feed the living.

Be advised, we are ready for everything

high flying, low flying, whatever it is

whatever the threat, we’re ready.

Make no mistake, we have our conning towers,

our native trees, sharing data

beneath the ground.

I’m talking root networks

I’m talking mycorrhizae, the number of species

under one bluebell you wouldn’t believe,

a network spanning continents, and listen

just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Exercise caution at all times.

This is a radio transmitter area.

Please obey all further signage.

In the fight for light, there are always winners and losers.

That’s the way of it, understand.

Access is restricted, non-ionising radiation

and the blue water of bluebells

sphagnum moss and someone

creeping up behind you, the snap

of a stepped on twig, sensing movement

from the corner of your eye.

Access denied, restricted to authorised personnel

with appropriate RF monitoring equipment only.

Safety harness and correct personal

protective equipment must be used.

Do not proceed beyond this point.

In these times, the way things are right now,

proliferation of signs getting out of hand,

translucent fresh leaves everywhere,

it’s hard to know exactly where you are.

If in doubt, halt, keep still unless that is

you’re where you’re not supposed to be.

David Mark Williams writes poetry and short fiction. He has been shortlisted for the Montreal Poetry Prize and won Second Prize in the New Zealand Poetry Society International Competition. Two collections of his poetry have been published: The Odd Sock Exchange, Cinnamon, 2015 and Papaya Fantasia, Hedgehog, 2018.

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