Derbyshire Miner's

I've sat in the shade,
Of The Derbyshire Miner's Home,
once a haven of convalescance,
for those, injured below,
and for family holidays,
many years ago...

I sat as dusk errupted.
 I heard the laughter most,
of children un interrupted,
singing and chatter,
of happy people's ghosts,

I saw myself as a child,
with my dearest siblings,
And Mum and Dad,
happy for a rest,
and such a rest it must
have been,
From hewing coal  between
the Seams..

They called it black gold..
many a man suffering,
from breathing in its
mold..

and nowt but a living..
until it priced itself..
out of the market..
in favour of horizons
abroad..

I saw brass bands marching 
passed, the St John Ambulance
parading along the grass,
and various groups of families
all thrilled with holidays..
all now passed .

Now only silence exists..and creaking
floor boards ..no flags..
no obolisques..
just seagulls..
in their hoards..