Beneath the outward facade of quasi-calm suburbia

Beats the heart of Vesuvius

Awaiting the slightest surface crack

To leash forth its power of destruction.

Trembling rage quelled by

Semi-smooth transitions from one activity to the next–

How well the part is played!

That most are fooled into false securities that all is now well…

 

But the fault has been detected.

Quick-fix patchwork shoves it back below the surface…

But Vesuvius knows–

And lurks–

Soon…soon…