An Open Letter to a Volcanologist by Danielle Bongiovanni

An Open Letter to a Volcanologist

Danielle Bongiovanni

Dear David Dr. Johnston, I am writing this to ask for permission to kill you to close your Wikipedia page. You see, I have kept the tab open for the past 3 weeks on my phone. Every time I try to close it, I see the photo of you sitting in that chair, 13 hours before the eruption, Smiling with a book in your hands, The picture of ease. You looked so young dedicated to your job. I cannot bring myself to let you die again to click out. I stare at your photo, and I wonder, How do you let go of someone you never met? If I stepped through the screen and warned you About the following mourning morning, Would you run? Or would you stay, Determined to see Mount St. Helens unleash her fury firsthand, Dedicated to delivering that fatal final message, “Vancouver! This is it!” Where did your thoughts go in those final moments? To memories? To your mother? I hope you are safe happy at peace now, As life grows back above And those inspired by your name Tread the soil over your resting place. Are you waiting for one of them to find you? Wherever you are, I hope you dream. I hope the mountain has embraced you gently. I hope you know you are remembered. With regret grief love admiration,