My father’s health broke at 44
He had to leave the pit
Pneumoconiosis
Coal miner’s lung disease
The pit then war then the pit again
Some folk have all the luck
He suffered some depression
For a life he’d spent in muck
What about us Saint Peter said
We’ve given up everything
What are we to have?
Anything to sing
He ended up upon a cross
The same as his dear Lord
But he’d come through all his suffering
Faithful to the word
So what about us
What about my dad
What about the life we’ve lived
Will it all go for nothing?
Buried in the grave
This very day is life itself
The very gift of God
And you’ll come through
You mark my words
For every step you’ve trod
Brian Fahy
11 July 2022
Erris Poetry 