institutionalise

Forty years ago..
we had a social club..
paid for by men who dug coal.
In the bowels of the Earth.
Miles and miles beneath
every day life..
sweating for black gold.
They made a club..
where you could go to play
snooker and pool..
dominoes and cards..
or watch an entertaining group.
Or play bowls in the yard.
On glorious kept greens..
sipping shandy in the Summer Heat.
with your grandad feeling proud
of his family..
Mothers had their meetings ,
The possibilities were endless
with fishing clubs, cycling
organ enthusiasts.it was
the village nucleas of activity..
And at Christmas there was
festivity for all..
It was our meeting house..
It was for the community.
Now, with the decline of
Coal..we have nothing.
Nothing as embedded in your soul,
Nothing so running with
enthusiasm it led a life
of it's own.. and try to
explain that to young uns..
they dont even understand
the concept..
as their world of virtual reality,
social media and snowflake
paranoia has them crushed
to a screen ..with a pseudo paper
mask for protection..