What was it like down’t pit Grandad?

Was it always night?

Did you have to grope around

Or did you have a light?

​

We always had a light son

To guide us on our way

It always gave us confidence

To see us through the day

 

Everywhere was not dark

As you travelled around the pit

While most of it was black

Other parts were lit.

 

But sometimes in the winter

I could spend my life in night

From Monday Morn to Friday

I could never see daylight.

 

Can you tell me Grandad

Is it true what I’ve been told

That some places were very warm

While others were quite cold?

 

The men working at pit bottom,

Would be absolutely froze

If they hadn’t balaclavas,

Gloves and thermal underclothes.

 

And sometimes deep in winter

Though it may sound rather daft

They could hear the sound of icicles

Dropping half a mile down’t shaft.

 

And yet in that same mine

Others worked and toiled

Soaking up the heat

As if their blood had boiled

And tell me Grandad,

When you were underground

Was it very noisy

Or did you not hear a sound?

 

The noise down there could deafen

So that later, home in bed.

I could still hear drilling

Deep inside my head

 

And yet it could be so silent

You could hear the earth creak

You could feel a gentle breeze

Or hear a little mouse squeak.

 

What about the roof, grandad

Was it high or low?

When walking down the pit

Was it hard to go?

 

Sometimes it was so low

You had to squeeze and squirm

Lie upon your stomach

And wriggle like a worm.

 

While other parts so tall

Travelling was no fuss

The tunnel there was tall enough

For a double decker bus.

 

I try to imagine the shaft

And going down the pit

But when you got into  the cage

Just how deep was it?

 

It is hard for you to grasp

But each day we spent eight hours

At the bottom of a shaft

That could fit five Blackpool towers.

 

And now that it’s all over

Was it really worth?

Spending half your life

Deep below the earth

​

Were you glad when it was over?

And you could have some fun

Spending time in daylight

And soaking up the sun.

​

We were sad when it was over

So sorry it had to end

Mining was our life

The pit was our best friend