Sad Reminders
Hinterland littered with shafts,
now covered, old flat lodes
make for summertime pleasure
on Cornish site-seeing strolls.
Paths, hand-stoned make easy
walk-ways but were levelled
for carts heavy with mine waste
when boys, backs rope-bound
heaved rock for mere pittance
to topside from below ground.
Pits leave cries of youngsters
who unfitted for hours
harness-trapped in forced
labour met tragic ends by
thoughtless indifference to
vital child-nourishment.
.
Heartache dis-colours mining
heritage with much bal-maid
and pit-lad abuse that grieves
with sad reminders of ruthless
shift length when weary to death
young feet stumbled homeward
eyes half-closed and foodless
to fall asleep clothed before
pit bell\'s harsh calling again,
Tough on youth when pits grew
richer on misuse of the poor.