.
( ( growing gray cloud of smoke and ash ) )
( ( expanding mass of poisonous gas ) )
( ( billowing upwards into the air ) ) a
( ( dark omen of ) ) s
( ( despair ) ) h
( \ // )
( \ // ) g
( \ // ) e
\\\ ///// n
\\\///// t
the l
peak's top y
exploding right off
glacial snows melting down f
lava flows heading for the town a
terror! destruction! fright erupting out l
extinct beast awakens, roaring primal shout l
mountain trembling, earth shaking, people quaking s
in fear and wonder, transfixed by summit torn asunder
fire and fury blend with the sky as we flee and ponder why
we await this rage from the earth but the beauty makes it worth
all the deadly risks we know we face in living at this volcano's base
I recently visited some stunning towns
sitting at the base of active volcanoes.
I was left contemplating this tension
between the beauty and potential carnage.
(This one doesn't seem to look quite right on a phone.
Try it with a rotated screen.)