Climbing the Volcano

Climbing a volcano
Is not my idea of fun
The map says it is dormant
"How d'you know when it is done?'

I ask my husband
Who's going off to climb
Up a volcano
His choice, not mine

He pulls up the map
Says these islands were made
When volcanoes erupted
He's not dismayed

My husband likes trekking
The risk is small, he doesn't mind
His group walks up volcanoes
They say that love is blind

I used to wonder why
People lived in a volcano's reach
Why after a tsumani
They lived beside the beach

Some people gloat at taking risks😃
Volcano watchers stay alert, grow excited
They rush cameras to danger
When it erupts, they're delighted

Others shrug at dangers
Say, 'When it's your time you go
What will be will be
Only God can know.'

Others are simply scientific
Say: 'Carbon makes fertile soil
The ash for planting is terrific
Abundant crops and less toil.'

They say, 'In the long run
We are all dead.'
Reaching a volcano's summit is
Just a dream, or nightmare, in your head.
-ends-
Copyright Angela Lansbury 2020 Feb