In 2021, while still in the midst of the pandemic, a new volcano erupted in Iceland at Fagradallsfjall. Fortunately, this location was relatively out of the way, so it would not pose any immediate threat to people, property, or animals, but still close enough that it was easy to get to from the capital region. As a result, the volcano became quite a tourist attraction, at first among Icelanders, because travel hadn’t fully reopened yet. This made a great many people happy, as we all needed something fun and exciting in spring/summer 2021. I got out to see the volcano twice, and on my second trip, was fortunate to see its fire-geyser form relatively close, an opportunity that would not last, as the lava flows would eventually cut off that access point. Naturally, I wrote a poem about the volcano. It is simply titled “Volcano.” Please pardon the asterisks on certain words—I’m trying to keep the posts here relatively clean.

Volcano

Twas an empty land, only for grazing
and the occasional hike by a curious wander,
a beautiful valley of the barest acclaim.
But tremors abounded when the time was at hand,
as the hidden might of heat underground
steadily streamed, struggling to surface.
From far below this fire had surged:
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