Mountain When angry ashes scorched the land And pent up fury broke its band, When mud gushed out in hellish flame, We heard the mountain's secret name. The mountain spoke in smothering tone Of searing steam and burning stone. Its trumpet stunned the world that day And killed the ones who dared to stay. It tore the forests to shards of wood Till not a living thing there stood; As though it must its strength proclaim, To puny man it spoke its name. In trembling awe we watched its plume Enfold the earth in stygian gloom. The stricken sun drew back in fright As mountain wrought untimely night. The shuddering globe enraptured stood When mountain spoke in western wood, When Vulcan walked that virgin sod And mountain hailed its namesake god. In awestruck silence shrouded gray, In dantean light of midnight day, We cowered down in primal fear As mountain spoke to olympic ear.