PENNARBY MINE
by: Arthur Conan Doyle
(1859-1930)
- ENNARBY shaft is dark and steep,
- Eight foot wide, eight hundred deep.
- Stout the bucket and tough the cord,
- Strong as the arm of Winchman Ford.
- 'Never look down!
- Stick to the line!'
- That was the saying at Pennarby mine.
-
- A stranger came to Pennarby shaft.
- Lord, to see how the miners laughed!
- White in the collar and stiff in the hat,
- With his patent boots and his silk cravat,
- Picking his way,
- Dainty and fine,
- Stepping on tiptoe to Pennarby mine.
-
- Touring from London, so he said.
- Was it copper they dug for? or gold? or lead?
- Where did they find it? How did it come?
- If he tried with a shovel might he get some?
- Stooping so much
- Was bad for the spine;
- And wasn't it warmish in Pennarby mine?
-
- 'Twas like two worlds that met that day--
- The world of work and the world of play;
- And the grimy lads from the reeking shaft
- Nudged each other and grinned and chaffed.
- 'Got 'em all out!'
- 'A cousin of mine!'
- So ran the banter at Pennarby mine.
-
- And Carnbrae Bob, the Pennarby wit,
- Told him the facts about the pit:
- How they bored the shaft till the brimstone smell
- Warned them off from tapping -- well,
- He wouldn't say what,
- But they took it as sign
- To dig no deeper in Pennarby mine.
-
- Then leaning over and peering in,
- He was pointing out what he said was tin
- In the ten-foot lode -- a crash! a jar!
- A grasping hand and a splintered bar.
- Gone in his strength,
- With the lips that laughed--
- Oh, the pale faces round Pennarby shaft!
-
- Far down on a narrow ledge,
- They saw him cling to the crumbling edge.
- 'Wait for the bucket! Hi, man! Stay!
- That rope ain't safe! It's worn away!
- He's taking his chance,
- Slack out the line!
- Sweet Lord be with him! 'cried Pennarby mine.
-
- 'He's got him! He has him! Pull with a will!
- Thank God! He's over and breathing still.
- And he -- Lord's sakes now! What's that? Well!
- Blowed if it ain't our London swell.
- Your heart is right
- If your coat is fine:
- Give us your hand! 'cried Pennarby mine.
"Pennarby Mine" is reprinted
from Songs of Action. A. Conan Doyle. London: John Murray,
1916. |
MORE POEMS BY ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE |
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