This haiku sequence by Prof. Ram Krishna Singh describes scenes from the coal mining town of Dhanbad, India. It depicts the harsh realities of coal mining through 6 sets of 3 haiku poems focusing on topics like open cast mining, coal workers carrying coal on bikes to feed their families, the health impacts of coal dust and smoke, and the abandoned mines. The sequence provides a glimpse into the difficult lives and struggles of coal miners in Dhanbad, the coal capital of India.

1.
1
DIOGEN SUMMER CONTEST 2013 – SUMMER IN THE TOWN
A SPECIAL AWARD FOR HAIKU SEQUENCE BY
Prof. RAM KRISHNA SINGH, India
DHANBAD*
open cast mining
burning coal on the roadside
dying vultures
površinski kopovi
paljenje ugljena uz cestu
umirući lešinari
*
blue black fumes
swirl around his head
floating hand
plavo crni dim
kovitla se oko njegove glave
plutajuća ruka

2.
2
*
smoggy mist –
filling each collier's house
with Yama's call
izmaglica sa smogom –
ispunjava svaku rudarsku kuću
pozivom Boga smrti
*
tired pitman
carrying coal on bike –
only meal
umoran rudar
vozi ugljen na biciklu –
jedini obrok
*
the wind hushed
a collier died
in the cage
utihnuo vjetar
rudar je umro
u kavezu
*

3.
3
driving
with burning eyes –
abandoned mine
vozim
užarenih učiju –
napušteni rudnik
*
wheezing his way
to Christ's hilly abode
a young miner
teško dišući
do počivališta na Kristovom brijegu
mladi rudar
The Coal Capital of India is a city in the state of Jharkhand It is the most populous
city in Jharkhand
PR
DIOGEN pro kultura
http://www.diogenpro.com