Miner's Mischance

Beside the swiftly moving waters
crouched a shoddy, filthy man
grimy fingernails racked the sand
as he skimmed......his mining pan.
Features hidden behind a scraggly beard
and a hat with a ragged brim
patched woolen breeches ---an old torn coat
boots with soles worn thin.
He rubbed his myopic eyes
and surveyed the creek's bottom bed
Perhaps ---somewhere upon the ridge
was a better place---instead.
Nearby in a grove, a grey mule strood
munching on dew filled grass
carried o'er --a mountain pass.
Picking his meagre possessions
he began the trek upstream
searching for ---the Mother Lode
every miner's dream.
But fame and fortune eluded him
had his eyes not grown--so weak
he would have seen the riches that lay
on the opposite---side of the creek.

written by me Norma J Suddard
June 3 1997

an idea as I sat 'beside the watder's of Mission Creek Kelowna British Columba
Many of my poems like this one came out in one sitting.
TRUE
Beautiful scenic place stirred my imagination for this poem and it took  off.  Norma J. Suddard