IMORTALISING ‘I SAW A VOLCANO’

 

On the gray road from sea-level to Roque de los Muchachos

We swerved around each bend, my hair whipping against my face

Thinking about the lava lake that broke open two nights ago

In the mist of early morning, I watched the sun’s first rays

Illuminate steam cloud blowing up outside by the observatory

With the sweet scent of bugloss and bitter

Smell of sulphur wrapped around me like a sheet

And each passing night, the observatory dome was kept unopened

The hopes of having new data were destroyed in despair

But we got close enough to view the earth come alive 

In the process of creating red hot island of ashes

A loud thud too subtle to suspect from the control room

I judge from my geography that it came from outside

It was dark enough not to erase sight - that 

I see the reticent volcano tell her tale

The land with it’s all red-hot passion 

Also gave away million tormented nightmares

That led us plan to flee La Palma by dawn

On the ride back to sea-level, the boiling volcano

Threw away it’s bellowing clouds of smoke at us

With choking throats and teary eyes, we reached the ferry port

Folks that see fire and smoke from afar tried to flee by ferry

That made me sympathise for locals regrettably fleeing their homes

Fire and fury blend with the sky as we flee

That being said, I write to express my reverence for the earth 

and my gratitude for this gift of life

Today is no better, no worse – just worth living!