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Post by jakeofwinterhill on May 2, 2012 1:55:28 GMT -5
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Post by dazbt on May 3, 2012 2:16:29 GMT -5
Good stuff Jake (and Dad), reminds me of the long gone days when young lads iterally followed their Dads into copper mining;
Souls of Copper
In a timely distance now hardly known
I recall a time then hardly grown
When proud I walked the climbing road,
In the shadow of a greater man’s load.
Maybe thousands before had made this haul
But none had walked it half as tall.
I intended in life to play my part
And that very day would bring the start.
The cold and rain weren’t there that day
Excitement of mind had banished away.
Leaving but one thought and that alone
Of a life to be hewn from the cold dark stone.
This mountain track then caused no tears,
Not quite the same climb of future years.
The engine house came rushing into view
Clutched to the mountain supported by Yew.
These first strides made through gorse in golds
Those final steps where a darker umber unfolds,
The mouth of the mountain that once gave a greeting
Later exposed in its friendship so fleeting.
With living lantern I entered the dying light
A black hidden world slowly adjusted my sight.
My father forward with a well-learned stoop
Followed in fear a newly recruited troop.
One thousand paces on a downward slope
Seemed as fifty miles to my father’s stope.
Shadows that danced in the flickering light.
My father subduing most thoughts of fright.
Little I did but watch this miner in awe
In near disbelief at the strained effort I saw.
I knew that these toilings were destined to be
An inheritance of years handed over to me
Forty years passed over, my father as well.
What once was a comfort is now close to hell.
The workings as deep as ever they’ll get
Two weeks ago the murderous water she met.
She welcomed the water and a marriage was made
My role in the game was finally played.
The challenge of effort our pump engine defeated
With tears, through ancient gorse I sadly retreated.
Jake, keep on discovering, be safe and let's have more of the reports of your adventures.
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