A miner's poem

[King Coal]

Man Trip rolling, clacking fishplate and rail
The methane went off and that started their hell.
Explosion enormous , shockwave it's pass.
rock falls around,,, then comes the gas.

Beltdrive behind them,,, stopping blown out.
Ventilation interrupted, Come on! one will shout.
get away from the mains and back towards towards the panel.
Sweat, coal dust,,, on and old shirt of flannel.

Leave the man trip, lunch buckets behind.
Mine rescue teams all this they will find.
Hurry away,, escape is cut off.
The beltway,, dust thrown ,,,out and aloft.

Another explosion, the wait for another
Crowded together, friends , fathers and brothers.
The smoke starts to roll ,,,,silent the creep.
It wanders their way to wrap like a sheet.

Bulkhead in a face,,, a crosscut alone.
If we can erect it we might make it home.
Throw up some brattis' cloth,,,, bulkhead real tight.
Cinch up the gaps we might be here all night.

Sweat in the cold, feverish the work
one said a prayer "hope to gawd this will work".
They sat down behind it and began the long wait.
each man knew his chances,, each man knew his fate.

Some took a note and others a chew
The CO smoke danced, each hour they knew.
No man would panic , not one man was odd.
Each man a Coal Miner a Coal miner by God


Joel Tankersley 1/7/06

[TomInTib]

1. That was wonderful. I am picking up a guitar, reading this out loud

and following with "Coal Tattoo".


"Someone said that's a strange tattoo
You have on the side of your head"

Who is this Joel Tankersly? I would like to meet him.