A Warm September Day Poem by cheryl davis miller

She swept the hair back from her face,
as sweat ran down her cheek,
Then bent down over her washboard,
and her laundry for the week,

Methodically her hands moved,
scrubbing clothes against the board,
As her mind turned back to thankfulness,
and she talked to the Lord,

She was thanking Him for shade,
beneath the walnut tree that day,
Thanking Him for touching Jessie,
Gram and little Ray,

For the pork roast in the oven,
the potato crop this year,
Then she heard the sound that causes,
any mining town to fear,

She scooped her baby up in arms,
grabbing little Ray's hand,
To scramble down the mountain path,
beneath the forest's stand,

As she neared the footpath's end,
she viewed the church's spire,
She caught her breath and hurried forth,
to carefully inquire,

For hearts are carried on the sleeve,
when tragedy's transpire,
An accident in mine's can mean,
explosion's flood or fire,

Most every one has lost a man,
a son a Dad or brother,
The greatest comfort folks can find,
is in God and one another,

Gathering to pray and weep,
is what these people do,
It's hard when someone else's loss,
can mean good news for you,

Babies cry and women weep,
and men try to be men,
But heartache will touch every one,
be it family or friend,

They wait as mining families have,
all down through the years,
Weariness drowns out the rage,
wail's turn to silent tears,

Ticking clock's set nerve's on edge,
with thier unending sound,
They wait as mining families have,
for loved one's to be found,

About sun rise they hear a sound,
as siren's once more wail,
Rushing forth with bated breath,
this day will tell the tale,

'How close did death come to my door',
is what's on each ones mind,
Oh God please let a miracle,
be what our town's folk find,

She's standing there beneath a tree,
with both her young in tow,
When her eye's spot a grimy man,
who's black from head to toe,

She knows the gait of her man's walk,
she'd know him anywhere,
She stumbles forth to greet him,
as she offers up a prayer,

Of thankfulness and humble heart,
and grace for the next test,
And one for guidance from above,
to comfort those less blessed.
AMEN