Hi sally,
When I lived in Wigan, a fair few years ago, I met a woman who worked in a
local pit - this reminds me of her.
I'm playing a little with the small words, tightening things up, but, I
hope, not taking anything away from the piece.
And a question: because she was called the Pit Brew Lassie was she the only
one? Was she, rather, "a Pit Brew Lassie"? ie one among many?
And, as an extra thought, because it wasn't just women who worked at the Pit
Head who wore clogs and shawls could a more particular title be helpful. I
guess mill workers also wore clogs and shawls, and who else?
Bob
>From: Sally James <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New Sub Clogs and shawls
>Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 13:37:59 +0100
>
>Clogs and shawls
>
>She wanted to play the piano,
>have dancing lessons, train to be a nurse,
>deliver babies. But there were mouths to feed (do you need a full stop -
>could the but just carry the poem on?)
>so she worked (on the pit brow) sorting coal. (so she worked at the pit,
>sorting coal - you mention the borw in the next line!)
>They called her a Pit Brew Lassie.
>After a while she learned to like her job, (where she learnt to like her
>job)
>the chatter with the girls, the laughter and the jokes.
>She loved to walk down the pit lane in Spring
>listen to the bird song, smell the Hawthorn blossom
>her head and shoulders swathed in a shawl,
>her clogs clicking cobbles.
>At the weekend she went to church
>had Sunday dinner with her family
>went for a walk, wearing (use "stroll" instead of walk, perhaps?)
>a hat with a feather, pointed shoes
>that pinched her toes and
>white lace gloves to hide her fingers.
>
>Sally James
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