Anthracite

The alarm flashes in the car

2 hours you have to stop

it is so quiet here just buzzing

of fly’s taking liberties

and being over familiar

It is so harsh but has its own beauty

no softness here just tar and red dirt

half way through my smoke now

as ants scamper to me in such a rush

to see if I have a two piece snack pack for them

Its really hot as I think of the job

leaning on my car taking another puff

dark clouds are on the horizon

just to remind me there is an edge

to this dry flat land with hammer handles for trees

My heart flutters as I think of home

smiling at nothing really, just things

I kick my smoke out as it all gets smaller

I need to go now and see the place

where another worker has died.

The crunching of coal beneath my feet
reverberates into my mask
its voice comforting but unwelcome
my breathing loud and expressive

kneeling to him my heart fills
with tightness and naïve hope
the want to rip my mask off and
call to him is strong but means death

my nose runs but it can’t be wiped
ears run out and over he rubber
filling he inside with humidity
he plastic fogs like he inside of my head

he looks peaceful from many days of sleep
I place my hand gently under his head
careful not to hurt which is silly
as he will feel no more

my lamp catches his dull eyes
and through he foggy plastic
they scream questions unanswered
as his face slides off to one side

it is a long time to late
and i can’t understand why I still hope
become angry that he cannot hear me
he never will, ever again

and as we scoop him into black plastic
he panic rises like a fast growing weed
people loved his man I don’t know
and I will have to tell them

black bags at our sides
filled with our brothers
and another part of my heart
is in every one

like a babe to the breast
walking back in to he light
taking off he sticky mask
is welcome and relieving

bent and with broken hearts I become harder
black and unforgiving like he anthracite
in he hole we have just come from
……and will go back to