Poetry From The Heart
I wasn’t born into wealth
a coal miner’s daughter…
birth in a house built on a hillside
rent paid at the company store
provisions hard to come by
many supplies lived without.
Bathed in a galvanized tub
placed by a warm-morning stove
fanciness or luxuries a no, no
soap for shampoo, Vaseline as lotion
cold linoleum floor to step out on
toes of ice and gooseflesh on the body.
Cloths limited and hand-me-downs
leaving a maiden desiring anything new
a treasure, a new pair of jeans and shoes
handmade hair curlers, no experienced cutters
cold feet and hands throughout winter
bare necessities all available.
A life of family and rough living
love filled every corner of the house
proud of who we were and where we lived
honored to be a coal miner’s daughter
I wasn’t born into wealth…
I’m a full-fledged mineworker’s daughter.
I wasn’t born into a family of wealth.
Barbara Kasey Smith is the writer of this poem – Copyright 2014 – Use by Permission Only.