Vincent Van Gogh 19 - In Black Pit Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon
Vincent Van Gogh 19 - In Black Pit
The life of a miner anywhere in the world is pathetic,
Most of their lives, they live in darkness!
Deep down in the mine, it is dark, black and suffocating.
The air around them is full of coal dust and poisonous gas.
The miners can hardly breathe!
When they carry the coal inside the dark mine,
They can hardly stand straight, they crouch and crawl,
Bend on their knees and doubled into two.
Young children of eight or nine years work in the mine,
When they reach the age of twenty, they all have lung ailments.
If they are not killed by mine accidents or explosions,
They may live up to maximum forty years - not more!
Living in coal valley, among the miners,
Vincent's heart melted with compassion.
Most miners were uneducated and ignorant.
Though they could not read, they were intelligent,
Brave, frank, efficient and good at their work.
Unfortunately, they were poverty stricken,
Under nourished, thin, pale and emaciated.
Each day, Vincent visited them with whatever he had.
Some bread or milk, a cover or a warm pair of socks.
When typhoid and other diseases spread in the miner's village.
Many became bedridden, weak and miserable.
Vincent made it a point to reach out to each one of them.
To his brother Theo he wrote:
' I have just visited a little old mother
In a charcoal -burner's family.
She is very ill, but patient and full of faith.
I read a chapter with her and prayed with them all.
People here are rather characteristic in their simplicity
And good nature. Like the Brabant people at Zundert & Etten.
One has a home like feeling here.
Those who go away are homesick for the country,
And on the other hand, the foreigners who are homesick
Might learn to feel at home. If with God's blessing,
I get a permanent appointment here, I shall be very, very happy.'
A Biographical Poem
Being a coal miner I have seen their lives closely. Nothing better now a days. Nice write.
The poem gives an insider's view of a miner's life and the inhuman working conditions.
Geeta, you have emphatically expressed the genuine empathy of this great artist and God's gift to humanity. Such humans are a true inspiration to all of us. As I was reading your poem, I was thinking of my father who had been a coal miner in France. It brought tears to mine eyes. France
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I get paid more than £145 to £395 per HOUR for working online. I heard about this job 3 months ago and after joining this I have earned easily £23k from this without having online working skills. Simply give it a shot on the accompanying site… Here's what I do………… PAYS11.COM
The real personality of Vincent Van Gogh comes to light not in the face of his personal tragedies, but when faced the unbearable misery of others. Here, the mine workers. Most skilfully Geetahas narrated this chapter. How his letter to Theo stands in evidence. Great poem top score
Vincent's letters to his brother Theo opens up a window on his own personality, his journey of life as well as his travails and aspirations. Thanks, Geeta ji, for chronicling the life of Van Gogh through this series.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/1/2024 5:29:07 PM # 1.0.0.1119
A great example of real social worker is well expressed in this poetic narration by friend, Geeta! !