Precious "Mettle"

My actual life is a fact, in view of which I have no occasion to congratulate myself; but for my faith and aspiration I have respect. It is from these that I speak. - Thoreau

in black density

tenneling deeper and deeper

further and further

sweat dripping from beneath a lighted helmet

inhaling truth's dust

choking on reality's harshness

hucking-up denial''s debris

hammering hope's bedrock

always digging for more

the canary is drunk

mining faith's golden ore

Author's Note

"A grain of gold will gild a great surface, but not so much as a grain of wisdom." - Thoreau

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is pretty darn clever! You come up with many clever phrases, but this title takes the cake. Plus, you execute this meaning thru-out your poem, as if "mettle" is that gritty gut-feel instinct that resides in dirty places (((HUGS)))

[Pete]

you're the mother load and you've struck the pay dirt of this one ... :)