A poem - The Goddess of Coal

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Beware the Goddess of Coal, she's a mistress without a soul.
Her charms come at a cost, and sometimes lives are lost.

For those who would strive to unlock, her compressed energy stock.
Cautiously they should proceed, the line is fine twixt need and greed.

Tread soft and dont neglect, courting tribute she will expect.
Never take short-cut chances, or commit false-step dances.

The rules of her paradox game, change, but remain the same.
And most dangerous is she, when dressed in her finery.

Access she will permit, but stay vigilant within her pit.
As she will at fateful time, test all who wear her kohl grime.

Invisible deadly gas, she'll insinuate into her mass.
And await an act of man, to ignite cataclysmic plan.

Abruptly her approving silence, can flit to a terrible violence.
And gently probing kiss, climax an explosive hiss.

Her favours can be great, but rarely she yields on a plate.
Recognise this bounty-giving, or suffer the loss of the living.

Alas it seems we forget and dont offer our fullest respect.
And with this failure to learn, some are destined to burn.

Ben Taylor -written as a tribute to the miners of Pike River Coal.

A National tragedy!

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