As the sun slowly drops

away from my sight

the bell of the colliery

tolls somethings not right,

soon long shadows

crouch on the ground

the women gather under the light

as the dark shades approach

of the onward night.

What do I say

to those that expect

I am just a foreman

I have no news

we must still wait

in hope of some soon.

The Mine shaft collapsed

thats all I am told

someone uttered

at least twenty souls,

let us hold fast

to the hope we have

not places the names

where no one has.

It is a job

with such great risk

bringing out the coal

down in such depths,

they know their craft

and how to survive

I am sure they will

all come out alive.

Tis the morning and I hear

people shout

'The men they are

all of them out',

then as I look I see them appear

faces so black

eyes so clear,

'Back to work tomorrow.'

one miner said

do these men have no fear or dread?

And our fires burn

through the winters nights

using the coal

the miners for their plight,

while the women listen

always for the bell

when their men and boys

go into

that black hell.