Coveted.

 

Coveted.

 

When half the world was blank on maps
and people believed in magic,
sounds became muffled as tappings
under the soil sprung up
while in the hills big holes appeared.

Folk vanished for what seemed like days
then flat mining caps
full of loot-happy dust, topping faces
of smiles shuffled off hazily
clutching large lumps of silvery seeds.

White-knuckled black fists clutched close
 to ribs the dead weight
of their findings, bags of pure alchemy, 
stones which changed when
kindled in home-made places of fire.

 
Dirt-hearths rose to unknown hot comfort 
with flame keeping cold away,
gems lost beneath time became nuggets
worth more than diamonds
and in days of old saved  work-worn lives.

Yes, coveted then was possession of coal.

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

How times move on. Coal has had its day, but it is worth remembering that for many, many years it was the dangerous and dirty work of the miners, often in appalling conditions that kept our home fires burning and our steam engines moving. Coal provided the livelihood for whole towns and villages dotted around the country. The mining of it also took many lives and shortened others. This is a fine tribute both to the miners themselves and also to that black gold, because it surely was then. Eloquently penned Fay. Truly poetic lines here.

Chris

[Fay Slimm]

Greatly appreciated this interesting review Chris - - totally agree that coal was extracted by those whom it often left injured or worse.......... thank you and pleased that you like the small tribute..... enjoy your weekend my friend.

[Chris Shaw]

Your tribute honours those who suffered for their efforts Fay. There were many of them.

[Karmee]

This is really good, I really enjoyed this. interesting read. I love stuff on History.

[Fay Slimm]

Hello and so pleased you enjoyed the read - - thanking you lots for your visit and review of the poem called Coveted as I thought the folk living back then well deserve my few words of tribute.

[Paul Bell]

Sure was one tough way to earn a wage.
Lots of mining towns now dead and gone, but such a great history behind those people.

[Fay Slimm]

Yes Paul - an honourable history attaches itself to the mines around here in Cornwall U.K where tin was mined for decades in conditions that defy description.......... thank you so much for your visit and review on my few words of tribute - - much appreciated ......... Fay

[Paul Bell]

Pleasure, Fay.

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Wonderful poem, Fay.
This just just another one of a kind.

[Neville]

Another grand poem Fay which could not be faulted in any way shape or form.. and the more I read of you, the more I am inclined to urge you to publish your own anthology.... N

[Fay Slimm]

So glad you enjoyed the fancied beginning of coal as a superior fuel for households........... you are most kind to mention an anthology Nev..... I have a small volume of selected poems published called Versing Beyondness and it was published for me as a gift - - I believe it is available from Amazon - -but I truly appreciate your thinking of such a thing my dear friend.......... Fay

[Neville]

I will go check... N :)