The event I chose for my poem is the Armero tragedy that happened on November 13, 1985. 

This poem is written from the perspective of someone who lived in Armero and is reliving the events 

that happened on that terrible night. I chose to write from this perspective because I read a short story 

about someone who lived the events of that night and thought that from this perspective, I could 

capture the feelings of people who lived through this more accurately. This event has been the greatest 

natural disaster recorded in Colombian history and it has a very big impact on the country and the 

world as the fourth deadliest volcanic eruption recorded since 1500 AD. I used the poetic form of 

Terza Rima to write this poem.

“Like any other November night”

I closed my eyes and pondered

About the things that were and the thing that could've been.

I just sat back and wondered.

Below the sky that was once black as coal, where nothing could be seen

And the streets covered in ash.

The moment that brought us back to the storm within.

To the start with a flash

As unexpected as a storm, to no one's advantage.

On that one November night when everything went to trash.

Everything we once knew would become a foreign language.

The buildings, giants, once standing up tall with pride

Now a mere memory of that terrible night full of anguish.

The joyful and aspiring town went on a ride

From which it would not recover

Now the resting place for thousands of innocents that died.