THEY STRUGGLED IN PANIC

From age as young as five
they were sent down the mine.
The darkness struck terror
but they dare not complain.

In the dust, grit and wet
of that black evil place
they grub around in filth
to work at the coalface.

If a new seam was cut 
the air became toxic.
They coughed and they choked
and struggled in panic.

When the coalface collapsed,
alive they were buried.
Some were never dug out
but just left there as dead.

When a child died like that,
parents offered some pence,
which the coalmine owner 
thought was fair recompense.

In that meanest mine-shaft,
with each child a cheap slave
there were many young deaths
and the pit was their grave.

Copyright © Tony Hargreaves | Year Posted 2016