Aberfan
On the morning of 21st October 1966,116 children and
28 adults died in a sea of slurry engulfing a school after
the collapse of a coal-tip in Aberfan, South Wales.
What greater grief
Anguish and despair
Than loss of precious children?
Weeks of heavy rain
Drenched mountainous coal-tip
Creating slurry of Black Death.
Ominous, forbidding, destroyer
Lurking hidden above the town
Threatening unwary primary school.
Children sitting at desks
Teachers supervising innocence
Minutes pass with lessons soon to end.
Avalanche of slurry gushing down
Black wave engulfing school
Crushing, suffocating and burying.
There is a press picture --- soul searing
Policeman, helmet missing, covered in dust
Carrying dead child from the ruins.
Mishap and disaster are components of tragedy.It's so sad when it happens, someone that we know has to go.......can't be help! Nice works Colin.
Historical blunders of Industry and the importance of Occupational safety and Public health reported through the anguish of poet! Timely reminder in the age of Global warming.
I remember this happening and was a child myself at the time. It was appauling. Well done for capturing the essence of what took place in your poem.
Since such tragedies are often reflected in my own poetry, Colin, I knew immediately when I saw the title of this superb poem what it was about, and could visualize that heart wrenching photo of the policeman carrying that little girl from the wreckage of that school as vividly in my mind now as I could when I first saw it 42 years ago. I was very impressed by the quality of your poem. I was awed by the almost impersonal way the scene unfolded before the reader, all the while knowing the emotional impact this tragic event and scene must have made upon you to cause you to write these eloquent words. Being almost the same age and having written poetry almost as long as you have, I know that every poet is always striving for that one perfect expression of what their soul feels. This great poem is as close to that rare perfect expression as possible. Carl.
I remember that day well x Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute. I've wrote two poems on this called Why and recently one called That Day I Remember.
Heart-rending tale told with utmost word discipline.
I was just a kid at the time and lived about 8/9 miles away, I can just about recall talk of rescue workers. Yes a tragedy. another excellent write. I can almost feel the emotions of the tragedy in your words.
Earth hath no remorse for the desecration of her undistubed crust What ignorant humans have damaged of her natural generosities, prophets, profiteers and activists, one and the same, will have their predictions and greed will surely become another Armageddon We write with heart filled tears for ink and all the while we not wipe dry the memory, Just what that is 'All Mighty' are we waiting for? ? ? Bravo Sir Colin Ian Jeffery, we must 'Deciple' our comaraderie of Bards and help save all life on this forsaken planet. Inspiring write by a great poet!
My Dear Colin Ian Jeffery, Your poem literally sends chills down my spine and brings and tear to my eye. I feel as though I am actually seeing it all through my very own eyes...
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I remember this very clearly and the dismal images on the television-everything seemed grey and black. Well put together with feeling and good imagery. Regards, MargeryR.