Seldom Did They Burn

On frozen lands Did our home lie Its chimney full of smoke And heat inside Kept us alive While our father spoke Come here children Gather around And hear what I must say It’s cold outside So please don’t cry In here you all must stay Now I must go Beyond these walls The mine won’t mine itself So please be safe And pray this day Unless the ice does melt He donned his furs Pulled on his gloves But he would not return Our furnace thrummed The embers hummed But seldom did they burn