The Birth of an Island

Subterranean rumblings grow.

Huge, Earth shattering tremors start,

triggering white-hot lava flow.

Tectonic plates are pushed apart

in a hoarse, grating staccato

of shrieks that tear at the Earth’s heart.

Molten rock gushes forth, making

the oceans hiss steam, boil and heave.

Tsunamis form, grimly fanning

this chaos out, across the seas.

The birth of a new island, part

of South Seas’ archipelago

means sailors will need a new chart.

Where the black, cracked rocks do not show

how hidden forces ripped apart

the very Earth, larghissimo.

By Jocelyn Wishart of Fairford & District u3a