Never Forgotten

Day 20: 'Have you ever heard someone wonder what future archaeologists, whether human or from alien civilization, will make of us? Today, I’d like to challenge you to answer that question in poetic form, exploring a particular object or place from the point of view of some far-off, future scientist? The object or site of study could be anything from a “World’s Best Grandpa” coffee mug to a Pizza Hut, from a Pokemon poster to a cellphone.'

This stumped me for a while,  but a look around our cottage soon provided suitable inspiration. 


Exhibit 1: two figurines, one metal, one carboniferous
Each sculpted in the shape of a man
Carrying pick, shovel, Davy lantern, 
Wearing a hard hat with attached light. 

Exhibit 2: five wall mounted ceramic plates
Individually decorated, on a shared theme,
Illustrated with buildings, machinery, shafts, 
Portraits of men attired like the figurines. 

Exhibit 3: one A3 sized watercolour painting
Featuring four stocky ponies, in the foreground
Of a green field; an abandoned shaft in the background.
Captioned - Out to Graze by RD Kristupas.

Exhibit 4: one A1 sized framed poster
Featuring over 200 uniquely decorated badges,
Each bearing the name of a colliery, and a date.
Captioned: Closed by the Tories.

Exhibit 5: one slate plate, mounted on a stand
Enamelled to one side, bearing the legend:
Friends of Littleton Colliery
Support National Miners' Memorial. 

Exhibit 6: one man in his sixties
Who never forgot the kinship of the pit,
Never excused the police their violence,
Never forgave the persecution of the unions. 


© Copyright 2023. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

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