Details |
Cliff Grimshaw Poem
At a lonely little village, on the 19th february 1857, nearly 200 men and boys, gave up their
souls into heaven.
Men like JOHN and JOSEPH GRIMSHAW,two unfortunate mining folk, who left for work, that
fateful day, laughing,or singing, or just too tired to talk.
Descending in the cage, at the start of their shift, then walking for hours, to cut coal they could
lift.
No bright light on their helmet, or safety boots that did fit, only a little wax candle, on a flat cap
did it sit.
Then!! at 12.15, a loud explosion was felt, as they dug out coal, hearts thumped,with a belt,
Next, came poison gas, it put them to sleep, not even a murmer, not even a peep.
But worse was to come, in the form of a fire. With no one to put it out, the flames grew higher,
and higher.
As men reached the pit bottom, they put up a great fight, as the scrambled into the cage, to
get out into daylight.
On reaching the surface, to raise the alarm, as down in the pit, miners were dead, some even
missing an arm.
At long last, a rescue party went down into the mine, but scenes were too horrible, with men
laid out in a line.
A decision, was taken, to put out fires with a flood, as the rescue party had tried, to search
on was no good.
Three months later, when the water had dried up and gone, they could retrieve all the bodies,
get them out, one by one.
They were all placed in coffins, lined up in the yard, but to identify loved ones,it was very hard.
ONE HUNDRED and FIFTY SEVEN YEARS, as now passed by, so dont forget our past history,
remember it, lets try.
I never found out the true fate of, JOSEPH and JOHN, but the fight for coal, and their
memory lives on.
Now, when you walk through fields, just stop!! close your eyes, try to picture the scenes
on the pit top.
Now, there is nothing, nothing to see, exept for MEMORIES, of descendants and ME!!
Copyright © Cliff Grimshaw | Year Posted 2014
|
Details |
Cliff Grimshaw Poem
To be alone,tired and depressed, left out in the cold, not wanted.
Walking down a wet and wintery lane, having no definite destination.
Drinking with friends, and laughing, going back to an empty house, and crying.
Working, for what future, feeling miserable, and full of self pity.
Spending happy hours with children, then suddenly it stops, and the head hangs low.
Sitting, thinking, what lies ahead, was marriage worth it, should i forget.
Try again, or sit, and wait, and hope.
Copyright © Cliff Grimshaw | Year Posted 2014
|