Coal Miner's Daughter...Afterthoughts

he was afraid of the dark, I remember vividly
tis why I scream when the sun leaves the sky;
a learned phobia...
chocolate iris' would envelope chalky sclera
till his eyes reflected night
and I
could hear his heart
thumping
(thump, thump)
wetly inside the cage of his broad chest -
hear his breath
catch in gasps
as he rasped
"just one more day to go, child
before I may rest
my weary bones"

and I would pray that his shift
didn't take his life
before he knew
the comfort of his bed.