A Burning Mountain Poem by MELVIN BANGGOLLAY

A BURNING MOUNTAIN
Melvin Banggollay

Early morning, I greeted the day with smile
As I'm riding on my motor cycle for a mile
When on my way I saw a great dancing fire
devouring the mountain's forest with desire.

When 'm getting near to the mount's serenity
After I traversed the high mountain's tapestry
Clouds of smoke was all over haunting me
with ball of fire really trying to go after me.

I have to stop and wait long till I can see
my way as clouds of dust was all over me;
After an hour of waiting there so patiently
I saw vehicles hundred feet waiting like me.

As I passed, fires was still burning heavily
and wind kept on blowing against the fire's fury;
then I heard explosion of bamboos not far away
and whizzing of the trees crying for God's mercy.

As I lament for the forest being eaten by the fire
I saw birds and other wildlife flee from the fire;
I prayed for the rain to shower its saving grace
to save the mountain's remaining forest base.

In my little way to save the mountain's beauty
I tried to put some flames of fire about to fry
the other side of the road as other passers by
tried to build fire line not to let the other side cry.

Stop burning our forest to save nature's beauty
to protect us from nature's own furious fury
of claiming justice against men's great cruelty
of destroying and exploiting nature's tapestry.