All to Darkness
A Tribute & memorial poem to the twenty-nine men who were lost to New Zealand and to their families and friends in the Pike River Coal Mine tragedy on Friday November 19th 2010.
No warning did fate’s shadow give that West Coast Friday morn
Of who would die or who would live to see another dawn
And for one band of brothers all who numbered twenty-nine
It was the day that cast a pall upon Pike River Mine.
When all to smoke and darkness fell and haunting echoes rolled
The voice of reason scarce could tell for whom the bell had tolled
Within the hour the word was spread - the sombre cloak of doubt
Became the harbinger of dread which hung there ......all about
The kindred of the twenty-nine were chilled unto the bone;
For when a man goes down a mine - he doesn’t go alone.
Deep underground he takes his love and keeps it in his heart
His wife, his family, his mates - all play their special part
His sons, his daughters, all are there and with him through the day
Their spirits like a breath of air that keeps despair away
The longest wait it started then the darkness hung like mist
While all around courageous men stood ready to assist
Yet sadly it was not to be for yet another blast
Turned slim hopes into tragedy and future into past.
Yet in that dark foreboding hour despite fate’s lethal ploy
Remained love’s all- abiding power that nothing can destroy
Not time, not space nor deepest mine can ever take away
The Spirit of the twenty-nine who went to work that day.
And when the families and friends do gather to recall
They’ll feel the Spirit’s power blend each one with one and all
Behold these folk assembled here beneath our flag half - mast
Beside each one a vacant place without a shadow cast
Wherein their loved ones still abide - by human eye unseen
Yet still remain there at their side as ever they have been.
Though tragedy beset these shores and impacts far beyond
Still proudly stands that common cause..........The West Coast miners’ bond.
For them no power can take away what time has rendered still
Though with its passing, pain may fade ........their memories never will.
Rod Walford 26 November 2010
