Posts Tagged ‘V’

V

Volcano

Early Morning On The Volcano

Even 2,000 feet up
it was going to be a hot day
for a procession
but the climate allowed no delay.
The six of us, stripping to the waist,
each took our turn at ripping up
the peace of the new born day
with the pneumatic tripping
of our jack-hammer.
Under attack, the black lava
Did not tremble.   It persisted.
Though dead, it resisted
every blow of the chisel
It was unfriendly labor
though done in friendship.
We shattered the peace so one of our number
could rest in Peace.
But we ruined the morning hymns
of a distant woods dove,
and each had time to wonder,
We who live on the volcano,
when our turn would come
to go under.