On winter days, with frosted breath,
We wander to the warm, great hall
To see this sacred scene once more.
A mother mourns her perished son,
As mothers do across the world,
While washed-up men, most often old,
Pick off the innocent for sport.
Grouped women, tethered in their grief,
Mop up the personal effects,
Doused in their humid, sodden tears.
Soon, beyond anger, bitterness,
Scarcely bothered about revenge,
A strange, defiant pride takes hold,
As we, inadequate, intrude.
Sun 12th Jan 2025 13:40
Stephen,
Your marvellous verses in Le Grisou — with its evocative title — beautifully captures the emotional gravity of grief and the inevitability of human suffering. The title, meaning "the coal gas," could symbolise the suffocating presence of loss, much like an invisible, lingering force that slowly takes hold. It reflects the poem's tone, where breath is heavy, and the warmth of life seems distant. The vivid imagery of "washed-up men" and the grief-stricken women creates a stark contrast between violence and sorrow. As the poem progresses, the shift from anger to "defiant pride" feels like a quiet rebellion against despair. Your portrayal of mourning and the intrusion into this sacred space, coupled with the unsettling nature of Le Grisou, emphasises the quiet yet powerful endurance of the human spirit amidst tragedy. Great work!
Best regards,
Rolph
Le Grisou, which depicts the aftemath of a gas explosion in mining disaster, is a sculpture by Constantin Meunier in the Fine Arts museum in Brussels. Meunier, who was the foremost artist of the Belgian industrial revolution, created this piece after visiting the scene of such a disaster in the late 19th century. The sculpture is in the main entrance hall of the museum and its humanity never fails to make a deep impression on me.
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Stephen Gospage
Sun 12th Jan 2025 17:13
I am most grateful for your kind comments, Rolph. As you say, the sculpture emphasises the indominitable nature of the human spirit. It also demonstrates the impact of emotion in art: someone who doesn't know the background or even understand its title is still deeply affected by it. I know, because that was my situation many years ago.
And my sincere thanks to everyone who liked the poem.