No 14 Miner's Row

No 14 Miners Row.
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Little girl where have you gone to? I cannot follow in your wake
Time has turned around full circle stop and listen for my sake.
I have a story I must tell you, one we both must understand
In the flicker of the firelight come and take me by your hand.

I will sit upon the armchair come and settle at my feet
Ignore the chair that faces from me I have set the fire to heat.
Curl up on the cushions darling, they are warm I placed them there,
Let us follow now the ritual I will brush your silky hair.

Don't be afraid for none can harm you not while I am by your side
For tonight the place is hallowed death will wait there for his bride.
Do you remember how we started; "Once upon a time I'd say
Spellbound you would sit and listen chasing all the gloom away.

Tales of fairies, elves and castles, damsels held within a spell
And the knight that came to rescue all that in the place did dwell.
Giants, ogres, fiery dragons all the creatures we hated so
Soon were banished to the shadows so that love could start to grow.

Tonight I tell a different story, one we forgot long time ago
Hush my dear I have to tell you so that we can both let go.
Take away your hands my child you mustn't cover up your ears
There are things so sure to hurt us but we face our deepest fears.

This is a story of our father, a nicer man you could never meet
He sung to us when we were tired, swept us giggling off our feet.
Remember when we both played "horses riding on our daddies back?
Or when we went to meet him coming from the pits so black?

How we helped our mummy fill the bathtub, right against this very fire
To wash the pit-dust from his body swill away the dirty mire?
When we went to chapel Sundays, how we felt so very proud
Standing with our spruced up parents in the shoes we were allowed?

Think then of our Sunday teatime and the treat we had that day
When daddy brought out his mouth organ and then began to play.
First the songs that had us dancing then the songs that mummy sang,
Even the rich in their great houses never had a night so grand.

How well I can remember all those songs so far away
"Oh Susannah, wartime ditties and at last at close of day
"Canol Lan and "Bread of heaven songs to stir and songs to sleep
"Abide with me and father's favourite "A welcome in our land we'll keep.

Think not of the time to follow when the pit-fall took away our dad,
Neither of our own dear mother when the times got very bad.
Think then of the love that lingered, how when mother had to go
Broken 'hearted we kept together watched the younger children grow.

Weep not for me now dear sister my life was rich and filled with love
Your grief is holding me close beside you, how I long for my home above.
I've watched you try to clear the house, the tears that fall like autumn rain
This empty shell is a home no longer, dry your eyes and ease your pain.

Little girl that sleeps so snugly have you heard our story now?
How we made our pact as children, how we kept our sacred vow?
Wake with pleasure in the morning for tonight I claim my rest
In sleep you smile, I know you hear me may your life be ever blessed.
© Lisa Fuller 2005.