"Oh Helen, St. Helen -- What have you done?"

"Why is your anger so great?"

Did we take advantage of your beauty?

Ignor the "spirit" of your Lake?

Did we take from this earth, more than you wanted to give?

And heed not your warning -- to live and let live.

We cut down your timber, for our very own use,

And soon to your mountain, came so much abuse.

Did our exhaust and our smoke with sulphur dioxide,

Stunt the lushes growth of your vast mountainside?

Have we moved too many forests to lay our foundation,

From natures own plenish -- to a cold asphalt nation.

Have you seen too much ruin and total destruction,

To equal your rage -- to start this ERUPTION.

From your white shining peak comes your crater formation,

For the whole world to notice, from nation to nation.

Your deafening rumble, enormous and great --

A force from within, an historical fate.

You shake with a tremble for miles all around,

You spew steam and ash that covers the ground.

You blow with a force like a ruthless hellion,

Mount St. Helen, Mountain Rebellion!

You made us take notice and your story you've told,

A mountain with fury, a Mountain so BOLD!

Oh, Helen -- Saint Helen -- what have you done?

Why is your anger so GREAT!

Linda J Rivers