Words of Light and Hope from Muriel Rogers

Words of Light and Hope from Muriel Rogers.
Masaya Volcano Nicaragua
We had been tasked with collecting temperature data to be used by scientists
studying the geology of the planet Mars. We were to monitor the temperature
given off by different rock surfaces at different angles of the sun, so we had
been left on a barren lava field on the slopes of Masaya volcano in Nicaragua
with a roll of duct tape, an infrared radiation thermometer, a bottle of water
and a promise to come back and collect us later in the day! As far as the eye
could see everything was black, cracked and twisted black lava, with very
sharp edges, covered the ground, the result of Masaya spewing out hot
magma in the 1700s. Heat was radiating off the blackness, we were recording
temperatures of 60o
C. There was one very small twisted tree trying to survive
in this black desert. We were trying to shelter from the midday sun under its
distorted branches while the sun slowly moved across the sky, when a flash of
pink against the black caught my eye. In all this barren waste one little orchid
plant had managed to get a hold and its beautiful pink flower was defiantly
holding its head high as if to say ‘look at me’. I have a painting of that little
orchid flower on my wall at home as a friend, who is a botanical artist, painted
it for me from an over exposed photo I took. Every morning I see the little
orchid and it reminds me that no matter how bleak or barren something
appears, there is always life and beauty managing to survive.
Sunlight beats down
On the black barren ground,
But life struggles on
The tree battles through.
A little pink flower
Stands tall in defiance,
Despite heat and blackness,
Hope will win through