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He stood on the edge of the black abyss
Looking down into the darkness below
Donning his helmet, he turned on the light
Stepping onto the ladder, he descended
Rung by rung the darkness enveloped him
As the cold rock walls closed about him
He felt the familiar comfort of the mine
At the bottom of the shaft he looked about
Then entered and walked down the drive
Every day for almost a year it was the same
Breaking the rock as he followed that vein
Then hauled it to the surface to be crushed
The gold they had earned had been little
It was hardly enough to pay for their food
Yet still he continued to dig out that reef
For he knew that in it was a wealth of gold
He struck the quartz hard with his pick
Shards and splinters of rock braking off
Then he worked loose that piece of stone
Again and again he continued the process
As his mate slowly filled the barrow
Wheeling it back to the shaft to fill the bucket
Using the windlass to lift it to the surface
There to be sorted and laboriously crushed
With an aching back and sweat drenched body
He swung his pick and pulled at the rock
Suddenly he caught his labouring breath
His heart jumped as it instantly beat faster
"Gold! We've struck gold!" He yelled
With feverish haste he worked his pick
Digging and prying out that golden rock
Following that ribbon of yellow colour
Back on the surface they danced and yelled
Celebrating their hard won find and luck
They were rich and could afford to dream
Of all the things their wealth would allow
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