The True Cost

the mine exhaled its last

as its breath left the dead

down the long narrow shaft

stirring each hair on their heads

every man was all in

when the gold rush began

every wife held her tears

with her hat in her hand

they stood there in shock

when the entrance gave way

not one soul tried to talk

the words were buried that day

with their men, in that hole

with their hopes and their dreams

not even their souls

could escape death's disease

the dust and the stench

settled over the town

every jaw's final clench

hung open, without any sound

nothing but silver and gold

survived the collapse

that's how the story was told

if ever anyone asked

if it was or it wasn't

well, nobody will tell

it was the devils deposit

for first class passes to hell

she left the dust in her hair

and the lanterns all lit

no one mentioned or dared to

suggest, she got away with it