The Stones Know.
Strewn over seashore hard evidence of Alquifou mining
for coppery tin.
Trussed amid moss in tufty green sward lie hidden lost
keepsakes.
Forrays to deep-earthed hot-holes needed just candles
on heads and valour.
Long wooden ladders often wankled in unstable footholds
were dangerously thin.
Down the rashling
- - -__- - - - - -
would venture by
- - - - - - - - - -
clogged foot or
- - -__- -- - -
plimsole if not
- - - - - - - -
too poorly clad
- - - __- - -
with dire need.
Otherwise barefoot
which bettered men's
grip on each rocky step
of mouldy wood to floor level.
Meal was a pasty with tumpy top
candled to warm or fresh-baked
tattie and bacon-fat onion wrapp
in floury packet was all some ate.
Besmutted by black end-croust was
dropped at feet of pit-ponies for crib.
No time to be lonely down there, yoiking a-plenty young
lasses wide-eyed the lads.
They laughed at a smidgen and cracked white smiles back
and forth across packs.
Trysts and tresses were forsayed but shorn or capped the
Bal Maidens sought catches.
A favovian wind meant moist homing
in shivery smicket to a tousled bothy
in fireside bathtub for swift de-slime
and a hot gruel drink before bedtime.
Tumbling around in dawn mist, next day's shift yawned
as they fratched.
Derelict now only the stones know how it was but those
feathery tufts of sea-grass growing alongside some old
silent mine-shaft still wave in respect to miners' ghosts.
N.B.
Alquifou = Cornish lead ore.
Yoiking = shouting in jest.
Forsayed = forbidden.
Favovian = west wind.
Smicket = a smock.
Fratch = a quarrel.
-
Author:
Fay Slimm. (
Offline) - Published: September 26th, 2019 01:54
- Comment from author about the poem: Although written a while back thought readers may enjoy a follow-on from the poem on mining posted yesterday - - hope you can decipher the use of colloquialism.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 66
Offline)
Comments8
I'm gobsmacked at the desire you have obtained to actually pen the piece of fascinating and historically mentored in this display of stones pastimes. Incrediably expressed...
Kevin am so pleased you took time in reading the poem and thank you so much for your welcome comment.
Good write Fay.
Thank you Orchi.
What a wonderful write Fay, I was there.
That is a great picture as well, I sit one of yours?
Glad you were drawn into the feel of the poem Andy - hard times eh - - the picture was one I admired but did not take myself.
Of course they do.... they've been around for a long long time... and not everyone knows they have been watching and absorbing energy all along the way........ A memorable poem indeed our Fay..... must brush up on my Kernow speak.. I have a book somewhere..... N
Right-on Nev. - not everyone knows stones have energy- memories and those still standing around disused mines are loaded with tragic events which took lives by the score...........thanks masses for your thoughts ............... God blessya my friend.
Definitely a lot of skill shown here. Wonderful Fay.
Thank you Clara for dropping by and reading my words about early mining. Your comment is very much appreciated.
Fay,
the colloquialism was lost on me, but even though, I truly enjoyed your writing.
I am grateful Fred for your visit and read although some of the words used are Cornish - thanking you so much for your welcome visit and and comment.
A meaty write - a story well told.
A comment I really appreciate and thanks for your visit Mike - - this is the second of a trilogy I wrote on mining.
Good Evening FAY ~ Thanks for a fascinating insight into the Toughness & Toils of Cornish Tin Mines. It was almost Burnsian *To a Tin Mine* in its use of dialect ~ thaks for the glossary SIX of the BEST !
Blessings & Peace & Joy
Love ANGELA & BRIAN
🧡💙🧡💙🧡
Tough toils indeed dear duo - - - thanking you muchly for your visit and read of my tribute to those who worked - and still work - underground - - and thanks too for enduring the use of local dialect.
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