Underground in the belly of the pit
Firefly glow illumines the innards of the earth
Fearless, maybe desperate men pick on solid veins
Expert eyes scan seams wishing for it to be gold
Precious is survival, precious is a vault
How to balance these delicate opposites
Subterranean,
Where breath is at the mercy of death
Whither lies their bank of trust or deposits of bravado
As peril is so real, so probable that hearts above
Sent pleas further up for pity, mercy, and safety
If they emerge,
Tears give vent to cumulative angst
The hunters sigh, glad to have made it
Some lose nerve and quit,
Daredevils or gamblers proceed.