Looking up, what do you see?

With such immense beauty?

Dangerous but still lovely;

This is my volcano and me.

Hazardous, aggressive, dangerous, to the eyes of some,

It blew out but didn’t kill me.

Hearing it roar didn’t frighten me

It’s simple reminded me of my belly when I am hungry.

Looking through my window to see it glow at night

What a wonderful thing this spectacle at twilight

When there is a volcano just in my plain sight

What a privilege, In my backyard, yes that’s right

This Island you made, you beautifully created

With luscious land with verdant hills

You gave us a home

For years you stood quietly and watched

As slowly we inhabited your land

You never meant to share

But you were generous enough

We took advantage of your home we destroyed your forest

Cut down your trees polluted your land

How could this be?

You stood and watch how cruel we humans could be

Countless times you forgave our silly mistakes

Till finally it was enough

Tears flowed from your eyes

You stood on your hill and plot your revenge

You watched and watched while we slept

You know the time was right so,

With the view from my backyard

I saw you huff and puff

Your land you reclaimed

As fright filled our lives

You expanded our shores

A backyard adventure indeed it is to live with the VOLCANO!

Mr. Volcano,

My! My! My!

Mr. Volcano,

Why! Why! Why!

Why are you being so bad to me?

Do you really want me to flee?

Mr. Volcano,

Mr. Volcano,

Should I give you a second chance?

After all the rumbling,

And tumbling,

And the mashing,

And the crashing,

As you carry on your erupting dance?

Do you think that my heart is still open?

Can you hear my cry?

Mr. Volcano,

Why! Why! Why!

Why did you have to be so close to me,

Right in my backyard you seem to be.

Mr. Volcano,

Mr. Volcano.

Sometimes I think of you in an optimistic way.

You put on quite a show

With your gorgeous glow

With delight our visitors joyfully sway.

Volcano in my backyard,

Please be nice today.

I settled in a small island

With limited land I know

But in my backyard

There is a volcano

It blasted ash and threw big stones

And poured out lava

From lava domes.

We ran to the North

Leaving the south

Cars screeching and beeping

People shouting and leaping

Help! Help us to get away

From my volcano

Until once again it is sleeping

But no matter where we go or what we do

Whether in Lookout or Rendez-vous

Ash from the volcano in my backyard

Would always

Find you.

Tourists come from far away

Like it’s a family fun day

To explore my volcano

Capture a mud or pyroclastic flow

That has been let go

By my great volcano.

And I cannot forget the bright glowing scenes

From volcano’s reaction

And our tourists’ attraction

Then, I am allowed

To feel PROUD !

I love my beautiful volcano

I love the beautiful glow

Which makes me very fearful

Of your pyroclastic flow

People scamper from the tide

And run to hide

When the thunder and lightning strike our path

What a terrible fright

What an awesome sight

To see the clouds of ash explode

Lots of people come to see you

With cameras taking memories

Of your power and beauty all around

Taxi drivers and farmers benefit

We all still talk about it

Sometimes sad but most days happy

Because you’ve made it so

My volcano is

Lava extruder

Stone thrower

Ash venter

Dome collapser

Mud flower

Thunder clapper

Lightning flasher

Steam emitter

Ground deformer

Erosion maker

Roof corroder

Marine impactor

Family separator

Village destroyer

Country builder

Scientist trainer

My volcano is

All that

And much more.

Rocks crumble

Lava glides

Thunders rumble

In the sky.

Ash fertilizes.

Pyroclastic flows surge.

Rock stabilizes

Way up high.

Steam evaporates

Pebbles bounce

Lightning illuminates

I know why

Domes explode

Fires flare up

Hills erode

Orioles can’t fly

Living here in Montserrat,

Away in my backyard a volcano sat,

Blowing off steam from time to time

And to show I am not afraid, I write this rhyme.

Now it’s not roaring, glowing, or spitting out ash,

But I remember the days when I had to make a dash.

Some say it’s still bubbling in its belly.

Yet they’re mining sand in the Belham Valley.

I wonder if they are not scared

Of mud flows coming down.

I wonder if they are not afraid-

That they could drown.

Just wondering.....

But me? I live my life

And I have to try very hard

To remember that I still have

A volcano in my backyard

Volcano in my backyard,

Standing fierce and tall,

Fire and smoke, ash and lava,

Volcano has them all.

Rock stones sitting on my roof,

Holes gaping in the ground,

Liquid chocolate mud flows,

Are rushing all around.

The lava dome’s eruption

Is burning down my home;

Cats and dogs and animals

Are all set free to roam

The wallet in my pocket,

My passport in my hand,

My clothes and shoes are left behind;

I have to leave my land!

I’m running from my volcano

Don’t know if I’ll return;

Everything is buried;

I do not have a home!