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 as shorn or capped the
Bal Maidens sought a catch.
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
mine-shaft still catch in silence a scent of 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 3rd, 2021 02:08
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 27
Offline)
Comments7
not only a magnificent but not generally known universal truth, but an education in its very own write ma'am .............. linguistically yours N x
Historic those words now dear friend re. mining jargon and youth's conscription which more than deserves my small tribute. - - - - Thank you for all your encouragement :Nev.......... I really appreciate your interest in my poetic efforts and for your regular reads and caring comments I send you gurt hugs................x
Those ghosts are still along that shore Fay and will always remind us of those times.
Andy
Yes these mine relics still have a feel of past life and hard labour in them Andy - -- we need reminders I do agree.
Good write Fay.
Nearest I get sometimes to old buildings is the disused Co-op round the corner! lol.
Am glad you enjoyed the read dear Orchi.
'Trysts and tresses were forsayed as shorn or capped the
Bal Maidens sought a catch.
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.'
(Aye: Cornish blood be pulsating ever-Proud
a last bastion of conquering Celts, enduring Pride...!)
a beautiful dedication, dear Fay
thank you! for the trip through history
and its meaningful lessons
Am so pleased you found something of interest in my take on mining when youth of both genders took part in the labour to raise ore to surface where female Bal Maidens sorted and stacked. - -- such hard graft to get food onto tables.
A rich and atmospheric portrait of past mining of tin and copper in Cornwall, Fay (as a comment that seems totally inadequate to pay due to the depth of the detail crafted into poetic form here – sorry) Are any of those mine workings near you? Talk of reopening? If so let’s hope due attention is made to miner’s safety and environmental consequences.
Your comments are always so welcome Dave and never inadequate and to answer your question there are no mine workings at present near me but there is in the village a mining museum with tours underground to show how it all was - authentic sounds too that are unbelievably loud were the norm back then...........there are plans afoot to do the same within a short distance away as tourist attractions - - - there is one working mine nearer Lands End but I should say they employ NO child labour.
Well that IS a relief, Fay. 😊
You're just a bit bloidy fantastic really Fay. Love your inspiration
Ha ha - well I've never been complimented so uniquely before - - thanking you truly and bless ya Sax for the biggest smile of my day -- glad you enjoyed reading this mining piece.
Ye tickled my roots with this fine ditty my deario. The family name is from St Buryans right down on the peninsular and we even have a tin mine bearing the family name.
So I can romance with your verses in my west mids ignorance but a very enjoyable romance it has been.
Well bless me breeches that your family name is so reckoned down St. Buryan way -- - you will know then the old mining jargon without a glossary eh ? - -- lovely to hear your roots are in south west Cornwall dear friend - - on your next flying visit pop in to say HI .... cuppa and pasty will be on the hob ready. -
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