Amy Clampitf(1920–1994)
The Sun Underfoot Among the Sundews
A n i n g e n u i t y t o o a s t o n i s h i n g
t o b e q u i t e f o r t u i t o u s i s
t h i s b o g f u l l o f s u n d e w s , s p h a g n u m - 0moss-
lined and shaped like a teacup.
A step
d o w n a n d you're i n t o it; a
w i l d e r n e s s s w a l l o w s y o u up:
a n k l e - , t h e n k n e e - , t h e n m i d r i f f -
t o - s h o u l d e r - d e e p i n w e t f o o t e d
understory, an overhead
s p r u c e - t a m a r a c k h o r i z o n h i n t i n g
you'll n e v e r get o u t o f h e r e .
a m o n g t h e s u n d e w s , d o w n t h e r e ,
is so bright, an u n d e r f o o t
w e b w o r k o f c a r n i v o r o u s r u b i e s ,
a s t a r - s w a r m t h i c k as t h e g n a t s
they're s e t t o c a t c h , d e l e c t a b l e
d o u b l e - f a c e d c o c k l e b u r s , e a c h
hair-tip a s t i c k y m i r r o r
afire w i t h s u n l i g h t , a m i l l i o n
o f t h e m a n d a g a i n a m i l l i o n ,
e a c h m i r r o r a t r a p s e t t o
u n h a n d u n b e l i e v i n g ,
that either
a F i r s t C a u s e s a i d o n c e , " L e t t h e r e
be sundews, 3 and there were, or they've
made their way here unaided
o t h e r t h a n b y t h a t b a c k h a n d , r o u n d -
about refusal to assume responsibility
known as Natural Selection. 4
u n d e r f o o t i s s o d a z z l i n g
d o w n t h e r e a m o n g t h e s u n d e w s ,
there is so much light
i n t h e c u p t h a t , l o o k i n g ,
y o u s t a r t t o f a l l u p w a r d .