Explore "Breaking it Gently" by Edward Dyson on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
All was up with Richard Tanner -- / 'Wait-a-Bit' we called him. Dead? / Yes. The braceman dropped a spanner, / Landed Richard on the head; / Cracked his skull, sir, like a teacup, / Down the pump-shaft in the well. / Braceman hadn't time to speak up, / Tanner never knew what fell.
Tell the widow? Who'd go through it? / No one on the shift would stir; / But Pat Ryan said he'd do it -- / 'Nately break the news to her. ' / Pat's a splitter, and a kinder / Heart I never wish to know. / Stephens told him where to find her, / Begged him gently deal the blow.