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Hard Times

Little to show for a hard days work Maybe black lung, inhaling all that dust Flip a coin, go right home or stop for a beer Heads came up, In God We Trust. Kids playing baseball in the street Need to put a kitchen window in Kids didn’t mean it mom, don’t get mad They were just having fun, ain’t no big sin. It’s just a little cut, no big deal Timber came down inside the mine today No bandage now, the air will help it heal Gotta go back down tomorrow anyway I get scared when I hear those timbers crack Sometimes my blood runs cold as ice Look above and hope I make it back Then look down and keep an eye on the mice Out of sugar, we’ll have to make do I’ll pick some up when I get paid Got a nickel raise coming next month Two bucks a week, we’ll have it made Yes I still hurt some but it’s time for church Make some coffee while I get dressed Sure glad we never had hard times Living in this country, we’ve been so blessed. Different perception of life in America from a different type of immigrant.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2008




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Date: 5/12/2009 6:42:00 AM
Congratulations on your poetry making it into the semi finals Vince. Wishing you the best of luck in the finals. Love, Carol
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Date: 5/3/2009 11:15:00 PM
Vince, my belated congrats in making the semi finals...Raul
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Date: 4/2/2009 8:40:00 AM
Vince, Congratulations on your well-deserved poem making it into the semi-finals. Also, many congratulations on the birth of your first great-grandchild. What a blessing. Good luck in the finals. All best, Orma
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Date: 3/31/2009 11:27:00 AM
Congrats on your enlightened poem having won the First Round in the Competition at PoetrySoup. Wishing you many successes. -Mohammad
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Date: 3/31/2009 7:02:00 AM
Congrats on making it through to the first round! Good luck in the finals. Love, Shar
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Date: 3/31/2009 2:20:00 AM
Congrats on your success in the PS contest.Best wishes for the next round. Vince.Rgds Brian
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Date: 3/30/2009 7:41:00 PM
Well,sir, you have captured the grainy essence of a depression era documentary or James Agee's Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. It has grit and raw fortitude as it's cornerstones and it really is very good. I wish I had written this. regards, Gerard. Good luck, I think that you will make the cut...
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Date: 3/30/2009 7:15:00 PM
Love reading this once more, and a wonderful contender to make the next round in the ps contest! Congratulations on making it in the semi finals!....So many identify with these words! Best wishes..Carrie
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Date: 3/30/2009 3:47:00 PM
This is still an awesome poem for me. Congratulations on being selected for the next round. Well done and best wishes for the finals. Love Heidie
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Date: 12/4/2008 11:30:00 AM
really love this piece it great thougts. You truely inspire me to become a better writter. love and peace. james
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Date: 11/7/2008 9:56:00 AM
You write about the true heart of a family, Vince! That is why I am always drawn to your poems...I really can really relate! Congratulations, on this well deserved recognition! ~ Blessings, Carrie
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Date: 11/5/2008 3:05:00 PM
Heartiest congratulations on your poem being featured this week. A poem coming out from the heart that moves. That is why it moves the heart of the readers. Let me share withyou a Quatrain from my book Rubai'yat of Josh Malihabadi -A Drop and the Ocean: Mysteries of Existence, its twists and bends. Men in tears, whom society suspends. Repenting on the plight of the poor is of no avail. Feel the reasons for poverty, my friends! -Mohammad
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Date: 11/3/2008 1:19:00 PM
Vince, so glad your poem is featured this week. This is an awesome write that is a joy to read. Well deserved congratulations. Nigel
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Date: 11/3/2008 8:47:00 AM
It's so nice to read this over again, so I'm glad to see it featured here. What a shame that some of the older poems get lost and forgotton...one like this is worthy of being read again and again. Congraulations on having it featured to be enjoyed by new readers! ~ Blessings, Carrie
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Date: 11/3/2008 8:04:00 AM
Great to read this again Vince. Congratulations on a wonderful featured poem. Love, Shar
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Date: 11/3/2008 5:48:00 AM
Vince this poem is as good this time as the first time I read it - amazing insight - congrats on being featured this week - God Bless
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Date: 11/3/2008 4:56:00 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved poem being featured this week Vince. Love, Carol
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Date: 11/2/2008 11:58:00 PM
Congrats on your feature poem this week Vince.Rgds Brian
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Date: 11/2/2008 6:03:00 PM
It amazes me how much we take for granted in this day and age. And no matter how far we have come, we have regressed in so many ways. Thank you for your poem, and congrats on it being featured.
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Date: 11/2/2008 5:39:00 PM
Hi vince, My dad's family lived miles from Springhill N.S. Many men died in those mines. Some of them were relatives. I can really identify with this incredible narrative you have written. lainie
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Date: 8/3/2008 4:46:00 PM
its beauty is the reflection it offers from past to present, at least to me
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Date: 8/2/2008 4:43:00 AM
May I please echo Mark's comment - blue collar brillaint - that pretty much say it for this poem. No matter how hard we have it, it could ALWAYS be worse, and I count my blessings each day for all of mine, for they are more than I could have ever dreamed. Bless you dear, for sharing this poem and opening eyes, love Kristin
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Date: 7/29/2008 6:41:00 PM
Hi Vince, life is sometimes harder for others than ourselves, that's why I try never take anything for granted, we all could be in a worse position, so always thank God for blessings small and large great introspective write, take care D-nyce
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Date: 7/28/2008 10:49:00 AM
Very different subject matter that surely speaks to us. So very well written--you depicted it so eloquently as well. Regards, Sara:)
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Date: 7/28/2008 7:55:00 AM
a great poem, yes i have heard some terrible stories of people who work in the mines, this was a great piece of work. thank you for reading my poetry and for your comments
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