Coal Cracker

I remember waking to the smell of coffee
Miner’s going off to work
Hear that colliery whistle blowing
Lunch cans in hand 
Look of determination on faces
A sense of purpose, a sense of pride
A dignity in a hard day’s work
Coal Crackers
Local bars thrived for the hard working hard drinking miner
Church on Sunday, back to Hell on Monday
No complaints, feeding their families
Sirens going off, waiting for word, praying
Two injured, no fatalities, lucky day
Visit the injured, covered dish, thanking God
A different breed, God fearing, hard working
Coal Crackers
Walking little brother by the coal banks
Wind blowing, coal dust, blackened faces
Laughing, mom’s going to be mad
Bathtub ring, Dad’s coming home
Supper’s on the table, say grace
Rough day, Sun still shines so we’re okay
Coal Crackers.


Thanks to Dad cracking coal for 25 years - I never had to set foot in the mine.
-Harry