On the 21 October 1966, 144 people, 116 of them children, were killed when a tip of coal waste slid onto the village of Aberfan in South Wales.
I was only 5 months old. One of my friends who is a few years older remembers sending his favourite toy for the children who survived. “What is twelve times twelve class, Answer angels if you can?” “Its those that died at Pantglas miss, Those slain at Aberfan”.
“How many days October has,
Please shout your answer clear?”
“It has but twenty days miss,
To those that hold us dear”.
“What was that song you sang to me,
In the assembly hall?”
“‘twas All Things Bright and Beautiful,
All creatures great and small”.
“What do you know of God then,
What did you learn today?”
“His ways they are mysterious, miss,
He takes young lives away”
“Why do you lie so still child,
As though you were asleep?
Can you not see your mother’s pain,
Nor hear your father weep?”.
“I have no life within me miss,
My parents to console,
For both of us were smothered miss,
Beneath a hill of coal”.
“Full forty years have passed miss,
Since that dark, fateful day.
When Jesus found it in his heart,
To take our lives away”.
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powerful stuff
Written by JourneyAtNight (314 comments posted) 6th October 2006 | A well written, poignant piece.
I had never heard about this tragedy before and using the naive voices of children makes it seem all the more distressing.
Powerful and moving for me.
E x
| Beautiful!
Written by LynB (435 comments posted) 6th October 2006 | I have just read this poem out to my mum, and we were both reduced to tears - I could hardly finish reading it. It really brought home to both of us, just how many lives were shattered on that day - I, too, loved the way you used children's voices too. It adds to the heartwrenching poignancy of it.
I would like to ask you a favour, it that is OK. I have read several of your poems out to my mum, and she said you have a wonderful talent, and, if you haven't already, you should try and get you work published. She said a gift such as yours should be shared with as many people as possible.
What I would like to ask you is: My dad passed away three years ago, and it would have been their 41st wedding anniversary today. They were devoted to each other, and never spent a day apart. Could you see you way to writing a poem for her as a tribute? I know how much she loves your work, and it would be a lovely surprise for her, and bring her comfort on what is a happy, yet difficult day for her.
I hope you don't mind me asking. | Sorry - typo there!
Written by LynB (435 comments posted) 6th October 2006 | | that should read 44th not 41st! |
Written by Gill21 (566 comments posted) 6th October 2006 | A beautiful poem. I loved how you encased it within speech, was a nice touch. It made it feel a little like prayer which was particularly relevant to the subject. The last verse was sad and wonderful. Actually the whole poem was, written in a childs voice.
i know very little about writing poetry but i am an avid reader of it. Good poetry to me can be read time and time again, each time filling you more than the last and becoming more personal. Your poetry has this for me. Were you published, i am sure your collection would be on my bookshelf next to Edwin Morgan and Seamus Heaney. I am not comparing, simply saying that your writing is beautiful and satisfying to read. You have a talent for writing about issues without being preachy, and writing about nothing as though it is something, all with seeming effortlessness.
I always look forward to your posts and what Lyn has asked above is a great tribute to your work on here.
Try not to get too big a head, no-one is perfect  but i greatly enjoy reading your work, this was no exception.
Thanks Oli. Happy writing! | Choked
Written by Snodlander (501 comments posted) 6th October 2006 | I remember Aberfan, I was 9 at the time. I remember the domination of the news, the shock on my parents faces, and we lived far away in Kent.
I am choked up here, and I'm in the office, thanks a bundle. That's my tough boss image gone for a burton.
A truly moving and haunting piece. It would do any published anthology proud to be included. |
Written by Phil (6683 comments posted) 6th October 2006 | Lots has been said above that I can not disagree with, but I think I read this with a slightly different take than other reviewers. Yes the events themselves were and are moving and tragic. However, the counterplay between the children's voices and the teacher's prompts, ending up with the last two lines, is what sent shivers down my spine. This could has been titled, 'Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild.'
This has raw power Oli. It's not just a tear filled recount. The quality of your writng is shown in that you can illicit different responses, whether similar or not, from different readers.
Top quality, thought provoking stuff.
All the best,
Phil. | Humbled...
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 6th October 2006 | Humbled by the praise as always.
Lyn, I hope you got my PM, its a comission I would feel honoured to attempt. Hopefully I could do your mum and dad some justice - its a bit of a scary thought!
Gill, you are too kind with your review - perfect? You must be joking! I have no high opinion of myself or my writing - I just strive to do a bit better.
Bob, sorry for choking you up - I doesn't really get me like that. I mean I never meant it to be a tear-jerker - that is too easy somehow, and trespassing on others' grief.
Phil - you are most astute as always. This is in fact an angry poem. Angry at those who let it happen (NCB, Government), angry at God too - a God who can allow the slaughtering of innocents. I chose the word "slain" VERY carefully. As one father insisted at the inquest, the cause of the death of his daughter was not "asphyxia" as the coroner said, it was "buried alive by the NCB". Lest we forget.
Cheers
Oli | Thank you, Oli!
Written by LynB (435 comments posted) 6th October 2006 | Thank you so much for agreeing to my request. I don't know why, but I have not received your PM!
I don't know if it's the site, or my computer, but I've been having trouble with my message centre. Sometimes when I try to look at PMs, it redirects me to the home page. On this occasion, though, I haven't actually received it at all!  |
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