Journey of Words

in
the
dark
where
stale air pervades
and colliers’ sweat
drips from oak props
runs down the walls
adds to the humidity
of pick-hewn tunnels
is where he lives, fed
and watered by us, kept
alive to danger, sings
for his supper, sings
for the sake of singing
sings as if all our lives
depend upon his living
sings as a canary sings
sings as long as he's able
to live and breathe air
drawn fresh from without
by fierce furnace flames
sings for us, but do we 
still listen out for him
or have we begun to lose
our sense of hearing now
we have been brought down
at the banksman's charge
to this deep black shaft 
where we pass our days
slaving blindly and deaf
to reason, while he still
sings valiantly for us
Life will win over death
and the light will win
over darkness.

~

n.b. NaPoWriMo 2026 Day 20 prompt: zoomorphism. The words "Life will win over death and the light will win over darkness." belong to President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

CLP 20/04/2026