I MEET A MINER

Deep down beneath the earth's crust,

Like moles creeping forth,

Extracting, cutting, tearing;

Churning the coal in swirling dust.

Men of the dark working their way,

Risking their lives for a few pennies a day,

Dust filled lungs, skin so black,

Smiling faces step forth from the hatch;

Relieved of their thoughts that the day has past,

Fighting and starving to save their lives,

Amongst the filth and swirling gas :

The death of the cave has past....