Found Absent.
Those Cornish pit-boys who made an escape
by stowing away in boats and enduring more
before dire hunger and fear drove them to seek
help were often held in close chains until port.
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Looking back, collieries hid distance, as smoke
poured dark fog into hostile conditions.
Snatches of sunshine shone a begrudging dose
to brave celandines birthing a puny Spring.
Sapped youth toiling in coal dust knew the pit
brought no refreshment to repressed people.
Weariness told them they too would be chilled
into believing that obedience meant zeal.
Caught and affronted their childhood ended
in grey automation by trudging mined floors.
Obsolete days fought with untouched intention
to wash blackened clogs and crawl no more.
Lit by accession nearby docks showed children
ways to freedom, though success was vague.
Timetables to boys\' hazy minds looked simple
but knew somewhere would be a right train.
By morning shift one more lad found absent
fed hope to capped faces again shuffling by.
Some knew fool\'s gold held over young heads
misled yet others, half fully-fledged would fly.