Current events

I'd been doing research into coal-mining accidents in China and thinking about the topic for a few months as G.P. was commissioned to compose a piece of music on the topic. And now, closely following the recent events in West Virginia surrounding the death of 12 coal miners caused by explosion and black damp/asphyxiation. Those poor men only had one hour of oxygen - they had no chance.

Black Prayer

     for G. P.

One thousand feet
below the surface
the overburden ratio

of what must be
removed

father
brother
husband
& son

Chengan
Monogah
Dong Feng
Hyden
Chenjiasan
McClure
Shaanxi
Redstone
Sunjianwan
Oven Fork