Cameroon, 1986
The lake was calm above the cloud
that grew unseen, unheard. A loud
mid-summer storm brought lots of rain
as well as rocks, breaking the plane
of Nyos. Gas became a shroud
for thousands, livestock mostly cowed
by boredom, farmers duly proud
of crops, since long in this domain
the lake was calm.
A plethora of experts ploughed
up theories why and how the crowd
had suffered sudden death. Arcane
such seemed to those who could regain
their fields. These came back home, avowed
the lake was calm.
About the Poet
Jane Blanchard lives and writes in Georgia. Her poetry has appeared previously in Vita Brevis and recently in Better Than Starbucks, Lighten Up Online, and Snakeskin. Her third collection, After Before, is now available from Kelsay Books.
For the first time in nearly five years, Vita Brevis is closed for submission. Read the full story here.
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