They strain towards the light.
Blinded by a death
in black and white.
Stood in a puddle of water
its darkness climbing legs
like sweet peas.
Tickling those hardened
by the tenebrous earth. Photograph by Keith Pattison
Leaching tears since ’51.
© Winston Plowes 2012
Win, I missed this intent by relating the poem to the picture, and misinterpreting the 'You" and 'a puddle of water'. Having read the comments, I realize these were 'miners'. Maybe, I might have picked up the reference but " 'a' puddle of water" really threw me off too. Probably just me.
I think I've been down this one, Win. It had one of the shortest MATs(Machine Available Time)in the country because they mined so far out under the sea.
I also had cause to visit on a number of occasions after it had closed as I ran the Jobshops for redundant mineworkers nationally.
Powerful imagery, Win.
Hello there and thankyou for your comments. Earlier this year I visited the North East coast ex mining towns of Blackhall and Easington Colliery. The town is still called that despite the pit closing in 1993. There is a road there with an avenue of trees planted to mark the passing of the 83 men who died in the disaster of 1951. It is a place overflowing with memories and history. Win
<Deleted User> (6315)
Sat 28th Apr 2012 12:55
Evocative words Win.
To find so much to think about in so few words is lovely. Bringing in the sweet peas as together with the darkness is just brilliant as is the tickling and the hardened..In fact the whole mix of growth and its use is super work. :)
you have captured the claustrophobic fears so well in a few lines. brilliant images and the sweet pea simile emphasising the harsh disparity between their cheery, sunlit world and the dank,gloom below the surface. I found this really chilling. I could feel myself actually underground. I live in Doncaster and there are many here who would empathise with this, Win.
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winston plowes
Tue 8th May 2012 11:24
Hi Cynthia , changed the 'You' to 'They', thx. better I think. Win