Voices in
the Coalshed
September
“The
best thing since sliced bread”, so the saying goes. 1928 that was invented. 113
years earlier a thin slice of gauze wrapped around a flame saved thousands of
lives. Humphry Davy’s miners’ safety lamp was the best thing as far as colliers
were concerned.
To
mark “Light in the Darkness”, the Davy exhibition in the Technology Gallery at
the National Coal Mining Museum, “Voices in the Coalshed” invites you to
nominate what you think is the best invention… “…since sliced bread”.
Simply
say,
I
think the best invention ever is…………………, because………………..
Send
your idea to:
Suggestions
will be post on www.coalshedpoets.blogspot.com
and then become exhibits the virtual museum.
Dave Alton
Writer in Residence
National Coal Mining
Museum of England
The
Invention of Light
Candles! Count them on
your birthday cake, then
Blow! Make a wish first,
of course. Power cut,
Light a candle, the
teardrop of flame makes
The shadows dance, a
warm glow of past times
Until reconnection with
the present.
Scented candles received
as gifts, then wrapped
In coloured tissue
they’re given again
As gifts.
Candles! Just the one
and it stinks,
Just a stub of putrid
animal fat
With a weak flickering
flame that flutters
And gutters when the
trapper hauls open
His trap for hurriers to
hurry through.
Weak, but yet too strong
when the mine’s bad breath,
The methane, the feared
fire damp, concentrates.
Then blows!
Make a wish it isn’t so,
of course.
Far, far better though
to not wish but do,
Tame the flame, stop it
becoming angry
With a wrap of gauze,
simple, yet profound.
How many thousands of
lives screened from death
By a plan with so many
holes in it?
Light the lamp, labour
in its yellow glow,
Know to go when it
sputters and turns blue.
Davy or Stephenson?
Stepping from darkness,
Colliers couldn’t care
who invented the light.
Dave
Alton
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