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ABERFAN TRAGEDY
Posted: 23 October 2004
Word Count: 154
Summary: Dedicated to the 1966 tragedy and people of Aberfan.
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Don't walk through the valley
where the shadow of death lingers.
Feel the cold chill as you pass by,
some,pointed fingers.
Heard the cries throughout the world
no-one could stop the reeling the hurt,
so please.
Don't walk through the valley
where the shadow of death lingers.
Children in school,happy and laughing
giggles all round.
So please.
Don't walk through the valley
where the shadow of death lingers.
Slag heaps moved,children in school,
unaware of the tragedy to come.
So please.
Don't walk through the valley
where the shadow of death lingers.
Took just 5 minutes for the coal tip to flow,
engulfing a farm,houses and school just below.
So please.
Don't walk through the valley
where the shadow of death lingers.
116 children,28 adults died in Aberfan
all those years ago.
A generation,no more.
So please.
Don't walk through the valley,
Where the shadow of death lingered.
Only to pay your respects,nothing more.
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Comments by other Members
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 Brian Aird at 14:35 on 23 October 2004
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That's a fine, well composed poem about a terrible tragedy.
It made me remember how I felt about Hungerford -a village near my home. We used to visit it often until a madman with a gun killed innocent people in the street.
I know it would have been hard on business people that rely on visitor trade, but we stayed away. I sometimes think that was wrong.
I stayed in a village in Wales once where the hotel had a 'slag heap' right outside the bedroom window. It immediatley made me think of Aberfan. We stayed only one night.
I would only ask if staying away is the right thing to do.
Brian
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 roovacrag at 15:32 on 23 October 2004
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Brian many thanks, I remember they cleaned all the slag heaps in villages near me after this. Too late then.
xx Alice
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poemsgalore at 16:25 on 23 October 2004
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I liked the repetition here Alice, reinforcing the tragedy and the horror of it. There have been too many tragedies in recent years, and yes, it is always too late when action is taken.
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youngskywalker at 16:39 on 23 October 2004
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If tragedies are forgotten, they are more likely to happen again.
This is a very nicely written reminder.
Bryan.
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 Elsie at 16:42 on 23 October 2004
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A heartfelt poem. I agree, the repetition works. Let's hope the tragedy doesn't repeat itself.
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roovacrag at 19:34 on 23 October 2004
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Kathleen .. I expected you to remember this and so far this has not been repeated,unlike shootings as Brian said about Hungerford .
Many thanks.
xxx Alice
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roovacrag at 19:37 on 23 October 2004
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Bryan. You might have been too young to remember this. I am glad the young take care.
Thank you.
xxx Alice
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roovacrag at 19:39 on 23 October 2004
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Elsie.. thank you and I hope it never does.
I was 22 at the time yet still vivid in minds.
xxx Alice
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 joanie at 21:31 on 23 October 2004
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Alice, I really like the repetition in this. I remember Aberfan well. I remember standing in assembly when I was in the Sixth Form and a Welsh teacher read out all the names of the children who had died. It was very moving. this is a timely reminder.
I enjoyed reading.
joanie
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Lawrenco at 23:03 on 24 October 2004
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I have a vague memory of this, of someone mentioning it.I didn`t realise how many people died from it.I think the repitition does work gives the piece another voice.
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roovacrag at 07:24 on 25 October 2004
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Lawrenco.. I was just 22 when it happened. Horrific for the time. Took just 5 minutes and I can still see the miners digging frantically to get the children out.
You would have been just a baby at the time.
Many thanks.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx Alice
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.JPG) Zettel at 12:36 on 27 October 2004
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Tough one to comment on Alice.
Obviously, as ever, heart-felt and sincere: how could it not be. There seems something wrong about commenting on the aesthetics which are so to speak overwhelmed by the importance of the content.
But I was on teaching practice in Dowlais Top at the time and the impact on Welsh friends (many of whom lost relations) and the extraordinary people of the Valleys was so personal, so, if I may put it this way, uniquely Welsh in the very best sense, that while sharing their grief of course, one was not quite part of it. For once the differences of background and sense of community were valid and worth accepting.
I raise the point as it is always a difficult balance to strike when trying to express something about such tragic events that happened to others. And this is true of any such events not just Aberfan. You mention seeing the miners digging so perhaps you are from the Valleys?
That said, I'm not quite sure what your moving repeated lines quite say.
Zettel
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