ERUPTION: Montserrat versus Volcano
Edited by Howard A Fergus
Volcanic Action
Jomel Allen
St. Augustine
Rumble tumble
De mountain a grumble
Ash a fall
Heed de call
Montserratians stand still
All eyes to de Hill
Rumble tumble
What a jumble
Big Explosion
Look commotion
Me start to cry
Me no want to die
Rumble tumble
De ghaut a mumble
Stone tos’ high
Way up in de sky
Mud a flow
Grab you bag ley awe go
Rumble tumble
De island a grumble
East, west and sout’
Everybody look out
Get a head start for de nort’
Rumble tumble
Han’ a fumble
Heavy earthquake
De whole place a shake
Belly a bwile
Lard mea wan dead chil’
Rumble tumble
People be humble
You a play you no fraid
Who hold de blade?
Ayou continue to wrangle
A papa God hold de handle
The Sleeping Giant Wakes
Crystal Farrell
MSS Salem
1
Volcano, volcano we know your’e there.
For many have climbed you throughout the years.
And when they climbed they did not fear
Though they knew that you were there.
2
Lately you have changed your mood.
And made Montserratian minds confused,
For many days you behaved so rude,
We thought you’d erupt but you refused.
3
You covered us with your dirty ash,
Then you shook us with your tremors
Many left the island with their cash
Others stayed to brave the dilemma.
4
Scientists were flown in to monitor the situation,
They watched it closely each day that passed
Few days later we were faced with evacuation,
Everyone thought eruption was here at last.
5
As usual, you became calm
Only giving off a sulphurous smell
Scientists say there’s no cause for alarm
But will it ever blow, they cannot tell.
A Rude Awakening
Camara Irish
St. Augustine
For many years the volcano stood alone resting on the mountain top, making people who like climbing pat its back. One day it woke up. It made a frightening roar which made everyone afraid.
Since I am not old enough to know what was going on, I listened to my mother and sister when they were talking to find out about the secrets of the volcano. I also looked in my new Grade Four Reading book and saw something bad about it. This made me more frightened when I saw plenty of ash falling.
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