I didn't know that you once lived in Wigan. Bob.I was born there and the 
woman in the poem was my mother a very gentle soul. I have very strong 
connections with mining my father started work down the pit when he was 
fourteen. He eventually after much hard study became a Colliery manager. He 
worked in most of the pits in the area then moved to the Nottinghamshire 
coal fields.
I will send the revised version and thanks for your comments. Bw Sally J


>From: Bob Cooper <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: New Sub Clogs and shawls
>Date: Mon, 29 May 2006 17:21:46 +0000
>
>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