When I was young, I knew this man
Quiet as he was, in most of his ways
He dreamed!
Though trapped in a land of coal fields
And hard times
He refused to give into the pain
Of his reality
He just dreamed anyway, often seeing
Himself far away from deep mines
And stripped hills
In places more beautiful; under circumstances
Fairer
Sometimes, it seemed to me
Wishing on a star aged the man early in life
Beyond years granted, as did working
In the lowest seams of coal unmasked!
Though the lines upon his face and hands
And the sparkle within his eyes, and smile
His story could be told if study was taken
One of misfortune mingled with hope of future
For if he could not overcome his plight in life
Then his dream, was someday in time
His children would!
And in that time, his loss in life would be his gain
In Heaven!
©Floyd Jett
08-06-09
Published: The Breathitt Advocate 08-27-09
Trials and Tribulations Column
[UPDATE 3/2/2012] - Visit MOUNTAIN POETS DISPLAY for more of Mr Jett's powerful poetry.
glad to tribute
ReplyDeleteVisitMPDisplay
ReplyDeletehttp://mountainpoetsdisplay.blogspot.com/
for more poetry by floyd Jett
Thank you very much. I have updated this post by adding the link to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks very muuch to you in kind. You have a very nice site as well might I add.
DeleteThank you for your kind words. But thank you more for your powerful and touching poetry.
Deletehttp://rinabrundu.com/2012/09/01/miners-from-south-africa-to-sardinia-to-kentucky-organised-labor-can-make-a-difference-so-says-son-of-a-miner-raised-in-a-coal-camp-and-a-poem/
ReplyDeleteFloyd Jett's poem " Coal Miners Plight" published first in The Breathitt Advocate 08-27-09 Trials and Tribulations Column , was recently republished in Italy. An interview was conducted by accomplished Author and journalist, Rina Brundu. The interview was done with Roger Philpot owner of a web site dedicated to the preservation of coal mining history. http://www.coal-miners-in-kentucky.com/CoalMinersPlight.htm
where Floyd Jetts poem was also published.
The full interview can be viewed at the website listed above. Mr. Philpot is also an accomplished Author and Publicist. Floyd Jetts poem was chosen by Miss Rina Brundu, from many others listed on Mr. Roger Philpot sites, as the poem to bring Insparation to the plights of miners world wide in an effort to inprove their working conditions.This is quite an honor. Mountain Poets Display thought you would be pleased to hear the news, we also have a a copy of that same peom in print on our main site were your paper is also listed with full credit. It can be viewed on this link
http://mountainpoetsdisplay.blogspot.com/2012/02/poem-coal-miners-plight.html