Randy Brooks

boney fingers
the miners clock in
at dawn

elevator shaft darkens
going down
a joker’s light

sprig of plum blossoms
from his gal
a young miner’s cap

cloud of coal dust
wives and neighbors
gather at the gate

a wide-lens photo
of soot-faced miners
the survivors 

 

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RANDY BROOKS is Professor of English Emeritus at Millikin University, where he teaches a haiku course. Randy and Shirley Brooks, are publishers of Brooks Books and co-editors of Mayfly haiku magazine. His most recent books include Walking the Fence: Selected Tanka and The Art of Reading and Writing Haiku.