Sunday, March 27, 2011

Miner


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4 comments:

  1. නලිනි චන්දිමාMarch 27, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    Less appreciated lives that brighten the world, in their own way...

    This reminded me of a coal mine I once visited- it was an abandoned one, amidst a thick jungle. there was a statue of a pony (or a donkey, I can't remember now.)in front of the tunnel; the description of it said, the miners and the ponies shared a very close bond since both groups lived isolated from the rest of the world, with limited food supplies, hardly any medicine, no entertainment; the same hard and monotonous life, everyday. The ponies usually lived inside the tunnel till their death, and the men, all their good years.

    Nice poem, Deen ayya.

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  2. Pearl MDMarch 29, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    @නලිනි චන්දිමා:
    Be it coal, gold or any other natural substances that is being unearthed by Miners. They work in organized body like a commercial entity they are being covered by somewhat regulations and benefits as well. There is larger number of miners, specially in less developed countries involved in personal level or any other ways. They hardly have any tools or welfare. I think miners’ sufferings more or less same.

    One way or other many lives miners role in different circumstances, dig different source to bright many other lives. This is a tribute to all of them.

    Thanks for sharing a wonderful note attached with a memory. Thanks a lot Nangi.

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  3. ChandiMarch 29, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    March 9, 1976 there was a mine explosion in Scotia Mine, Scotia Coal Company, Kentucky. Sad to say Twenty six of them died in that explosion. My father kept this very emotional poem for me to read.
    Miners give light to us but their lives always in dark. This is a very lovely poem I will write down then all can read. It shows us the feelings they have with their family & their work.
    ** ONE DAY FIFTEEN TWO DAYS LATER ELEVEN. FOR THE GRIM TOTAL OF TWENTY SIX MEN YOUNG AND OLD. THEIR PROFESSION DIGGING COAL
    ALL LOST THEIR LIVES WITHIN A WEEK

    WHO'S TO BLAME FOR THE SUFFERING
    AND THE PAIN BROUGHT ON BY THIS DISASTER AT BLUE DIAMONDS SCOTIA MINE.

    TODAY THEY CAME TO SEAL THE PIT
    WITH ELEVEN MEN INSIDE OF IT.
    I WATCHED AS SAD FACES WENT TO
    AND FRO. THE FATHERS THE SONS
    THE MOTHERS THE WIVES FRIENDS OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES. SHED A MILLION TEARDROPS AT BLUE DIAMONDS SCOTIA MINE.

    AN OLD MAN STANDING ALONG SIDE OF ME WIPED A TEAR FROM HIS CHEEK TURNED TO ME AND SAID, SON IM GETTING OLD. AND GOD KNOWS IVE DUG MY SHARE OF COAL PART OF WHICH I DUG RIGHT HERE IN SCOTIA MINE.

    SON HE SAID SOMEWHERE DOWN THERE IN THAT TOMB WHERE GAS REPLACED THE AIR LIES MY FIRST BORN. A BOY WHO MEANT THIS WORLD TO ME.SINCE THE DAY HE STARTED WORKING IVE BEEN AFRAID, SOMETHING TOLD ME HE WAS DIGGING HIS OWN GRAVE FROM THE FIRST DAY HE DUG COAL IN SCOTIA MINE.

    I CAN REMEMBER TIMES DOWN THERE
    I CHOKED AND GASPED FOR AIR
    THE TIMES I WALKED HAND IN HAND WITH DEATH.MY GOD WHY WAS I SPARED.IT SHOULD BE ME NOT HIM DOWN THERE HE WAS PLANNING FOR A FUTURE WAS MAKING PLANS TO REST SUDDENLY IT WAS OVER. I WAS AWAKENED WITH A JERK. THE LITTLE WIFE WAS SAYING BOB ITS TIME TO GOT TO WORK. IS IT ALL RIGHT IF I DRIVE YOU TO THE MINE.I DIDN'T TELL HER ABOUT THE DREAM OR HOW FRIGHTENING AND REALISTIC IT SEEMED OR THAT I HAD GONE TO BED WITH SCOTIA ON MY MIND.

    ©Jack Lee Shepherd.
    Thanks for sharing this Deen Malli.
    May your little words will pay tribute to all of them.

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  4. Pearl MDMarch 31, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    @Chandi:
    What a lively poem, everything were summed up in it.

    “…The little wife was saying bob its time to got to work. Is it all right if I drive you to the mine…” what an expression.

    Thanks a lot for your note Akka.

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