Ian Ellis Chandler

First person singular

I tell you something,
I have been where no one,
No one ever,
Ever has been before.
There may be other's that will follow,
See some slight mark of my presence,
But they will always only be second.

I have touched moist cockled surfaces;
Explored old fossil passages;
Flashed coruscating calcite;
Followed chundering rivers.
Truly, soberly,
I have first footed discovered areas.

I have measured them, described them, drawn them,
recorded them of film.
They are the lemming holes in deeply sprawling
dark blanks of faulted rock.
I have been where no one,
no one ever,
Ever has been before.

A spread of many, many linear kilometres
is waiting for my delving light.
I know the sites of possible entrances
open to my stomping glance.
I have heard of the gushing resurgences.
Where there is no opening I will shift the boulders
And snuggle into an enticing hole.

I will go where no one,
no one ever,
ever,
has been before.