Poem of the Day: “Down the Mine” by Christopher Hivner

Songs of Eretz Poetry Review is pleased to present “Down the Mine” by Christopher Hivner.  A brief biography of the poet may be found here: http://eretzsongs.blogspot.com/2015/12/poem-of-day-army-of-dreams-by.html. 

Down the Mine

Christopher Hivner 

There was a time

when I thought about her

all day, every day,

mining my memories

with a pick and shovel,

placing the jewels

in cloth

to protect until they

reach the surface,

the sunlight re-attaching their shine.

There was a time

when I thought about him

too often,

sneaking into the chamber

with a candle

to illuminate our past

just enough

so I’d get nicked

on a sharp edge

and bleed.

There came a time

when I tried to think

about nothing,

live in a void

of soft breezes

and esoteric things.

I boarded up the mine,

no more digging

through shards of anger,

no more cuts

too deep to suture

with a thread of deep breaths.

Now the years have passed

without subtlety.

The old helmet still fits,

new batteries in the lamp,

pick and shovel in hand,

I go mining again

searching for the gold

among the rock,

gold amidst the detritus,

gold shining its light,

gold to pay the way

to affirmation.

Poet’s Notes:  Our minds can be places of great joy and equal sadness. I don’t think I’m alone in sometimes dwelling on past mistakes or painful experiences. I was in that state of mind one day while writing, and “Down the Mine” came out. It’s basically a road map of relationships I repeatedly re-visit, then gird myself and say, “no more,” only to return later and dig all over again. The mine was the perfect metaphor for me, because it seems one small thought can lead to going deeper and deeper.

Editor’s Note:  This poem employs a unique (in my experience) and beautifully executed poetic conceit, solid throughout.