Chilean Miners

It was summer when they went to work.
Trapped underground for 69 day.
Trapped in a cave as dark as their own mind.
How did they survive...
The memories of a bright blue sky
Over a family picnic
Pierced the darkness.
The sound of a lover's voice
Stuck in the head
To grapple with the insanity.
The smell of their perfume
To block the stench of stale air and fear.
The remembered taste of cool clean water
To cleanse the tongue.
The caress of a loved ones hands
To keep back the darkness
And keep hope alive.