Over the Rocks
miles of whitish wild skin
and pale brown—
Wise giants
of the South.
We lived resting—
waking—
to the warmth
of Spring
Songs made
of Sand and Mud.
And so
we became fast-
rivers
running
more than a little
water—
We had infinite light
We had endless time
We had to choose
among
the Sky
the Soil
the Sea
the Trees
the Human
stream-
We have eyes
We are clouds
the leaf —
the never-ending
rhythm of life.
—
Ximena is a PhD researcher at the University of Stirling, specialising in bio-optics to explore the link between glaciers and marine systems in the global carbon cycle. She has joined five polar expeditions, starting with NASA’s IceBridge mission (2018). She co-founded APECS Mexico and advocates for polar regions. A Shackleton Medal finalist (2024), Ximena uses writing and photography to fuse science, art, and climate storytelling.
