Macroscian (n): (1) One casting a long shadow. (2) One who inhabits the polar regions.

Stand outside McMurdo
While there's still sun
About the rim, over land
Over water, over ice.

Your shadow will fall along
The coasts, across abandoned
Shacks where the first men
To cross these expanses
Holed themselves up
And went slightly mad
Waiting for the light to return
Come springtime.
Where amorous Raytheon employees-
and maybe a sailor or two-
Holed up together, away from the rest.

Your shadow will fall along
Emilio Marcos de Palma, Pole Station,
seals bearing the NSF logo, and
Metal javelins with swastikas
Standing up in the ice like needles.

It will fall on awkward penguins,
and ravenous skuas.

It will fall on a crumpled coastline.

It will fall into darkness
As the light fades out for months.

When the sky dawns again,
Your shadow will fall on a different coastline
Somewhat further inland than before,
And across the fitful dreams
Of nations salivating
At the diaspora of frozen souls,
For what might be hidden beneath the ice.