what lies beneath

The volcano lies dormant, peaceful.
Its snow-capped peaks reflect its sublime beauty;
Entire hillsides covered under carpets of wild flowers.
They don't remember what lies beneath.

Deeper still, in the twisting valleys
Minute signs of decay peak through the garish facade;
Roots of trees laid bare to the elements,
They don't know what lies beneath.

Under layers of dirt and rock
The molten lava rages at its earthly prison ... the pressure builds
Inching its way through the cracks, forcing its way upwards
They aren't prepared for what lies beneath.

Until without warning, it erupts.

Destruction hurtles down those once beautiful slopes,
Leaving behind a trail of haunted wastelands;
Smoke and fire, sorrow and pain
They are overwhelmed by what once lay beneath.

I don't want that volcano to erupt
But the pressure is building; growing monstrous with each passing day
Do you not think I'd like to avoid a disaster if I could?
But I'm slowly losing control over what lies beneath.