Tarawera.

Landlocked lake with short fetch

Sorts out a sharp slap of

Fresh water on foamy stone.


The cold wind cuts through crisp light

From the amputated peaks of the mountain.


Peace now like peace before but not then.


From when the fundamentals weren't

When drowned ships sailed

And night sky was fire bright

And the silent earth wasn't

And stones rained down.


The science of it explains the mechanism

But strange Gods to test faith so harshly

The why of stone turned to liquid,

Of air turned to fire,

And all beauty turned to ash.