[center]The Old Miner

He was only a wizened old miner
but he had some stories to tell.
He'd worked down the pits since the forties
when safety was ringing a bell.

“Me dad said I should go down the pits,
it might avoid going to war”.
But when I got off bottom bogies,
I wondered if I'd drawn the short straw.

The conditions weren't exactly salubrious
I didn't expect them to be.
I worked up to my ankles in water
with coal dust above – to my knees.

One day there was an explosion
we ran down to see what'd gone on
A seam had collapsed with some men in
by this time it nearly was dawn.

We asked if some help we could furnish
but the conclusion, it seems was foregone.
The owner had said 'it's expensive
we'll just brick it up – and move on'.

And after Nationalisation
conditions improved – for a bit.
But governments were only new owners
and neither really cared – not a whit.

The men underground were all comrades
the way in adversity men are.
Going down in the 'cage' they're together
everyone is on a par.

For safety, they all had a 'buddy'
someone they'd look out for in trouble
but Eddie was claustrophobic,
no-one would be his double.


Going down was, for him, quite horrendous.
His nerves were like guitar string.
In a roof fall he'd be no help to anyone
He'd shoot off - just like a spring.

While everyone knew of his problem
none cared enough to get answers.
What psychiatrist could do much anyway?
They all just thought he was bonkers.

Now when I'm asked if I'll take action
to improve our conditions, or pay.
I remember those men and their families
I think of them every day.

While action will, for sure, not be welcomed
and others will then us dislike
for those men, and others just like them
you're damn right I'll go out on strike.

© Ian Lumley

thanks for taking me back in time to my work down the pits like you scottish and working in five different pits i loved it with the comradeship looking after each other i started in 1960 till they closed them all as my family before good read thanks again jimmy

Dear **Ian**: Those quatrains of yours
could not proffer any large cures.
Such writing (however)
is not merely clever
but laden with strength that endures.

well composed and extremely poignant
Ian R.

Ian L.,
If I was in the same position I'd act just like you did.
Your friend,
David Fox

A powerful message there... miners worked under terrible conditions.. and still do....