A Welsh Coal Mines web page

This poem was kindly sent to me by K. Bagnall

The Men of Gresford

Deep down the mine, three thousand feet,
In suffocating dark they died;
Above, the air stretched cool and sweet
League upon league - to them, denied.


No light illumined their dark night,
No moon, no stars, but scorching breath
Of fearful fires in fearsome flight
Swept them to ravenous death.


Oh! God, whose awful power has hid
The warmth of summer suns in coal,
And man must delve and toil amid
Such dangers and let Death take toll.


Look down on them where'er they lie,
Who gave their lives for daily bread,
And then let Thine all-pitying eye
Rest upon us, uncomforted.


And pity us, whose strongest will
Is weak to pay so high a price
For warmth, for livelihood, and still
Stand helpless at the sacrifice!


(As per the Wrexham Leader supplement, this poem was signed with the initials E.A.J. and in italics written 
Garth School House, Wrexham)