Fury in Beauty (Mt. Mayon Eruption)

(We are like this volcano, for a time dormant, adamant suddenly;
sometimes latent, quiescent and quiet, then obstinate suddenly.)

[a cinquain string]

her lip
smells of sulfur,
hot as the sambalas*
and at night, its red lipstick glows
in rage.

thunder
roars from under,
the lands quiver, shudder;
frightened boars and deer scamper down
her slopes.

ashes
from her belly
billow a mushroom cloud
then drape restless towns in blanket
of grey.

lava
flows down her breast,
molten, like tears gushing,
carving gullies, gulping pine trees
away.

lahar
and rocks flush to
rivers, flooding lowlands;
villagers flee from the torrents
of mud.

the folks
flock to shelters;
crowding schools and centers
like beehives where they await aid
and food.

mayon
is a beauty
but her wrathful fury
is a legend in the land of
bicol.

- between
fury and beauty
is prodigy.

- between
seismic and geothermic
is volcanic.

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* very hot chili, indigenous pepper
from Bicol Region, Philippines
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(c) Chito L. Aguilar