# The Anthracite/Poetry Connection **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 18, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anthracite-poetry-connection/94072 "2001-11-18T18:38:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarbieOrBritney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47774/32.png) [@BarbieOrBritney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarbieOrBritney)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anthracite-poetry-connection/94072/1 "2001-11-18T18:38:20Z")
I was doing some winter-keep-the-silverfish-away cleaning and came across one of my old textbooks from grade school and started leafing through it. I came across a poem called _ **Mummy Slept Late and Daddy Fixed Breakfast** _ by John Ciardi that starts like this: Daddy fixed the breakfast. He made us each a waffle. It looked like gravel pudding. It tasted something awful. “Ha, ha,” he said, “I’ll try again. This time I’ll get it right.” But what I got was in between Bituminous and **anthracite**. This was M and P enough, but I just did have to share. 😃 And **Anthracite** , no hard feelings at being compared to a gravelly waffle. ---
**Author:** ![They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@They\_Call\_Me\_Sneeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/They_Call_Me_Sneeze)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anthracite-poetry-connection/94072/2 "2001-11-18T19:30:48Z")
I tried it with a hacknife, I tried it with a torch - It didnt even make a dent It didnt even scorch. The next time dad cooks breakfast, While mommy’s sleeping late, I think I’ll skip the waffles, I’d sooner eat the plate! That’s from memory, too, so it may be a little rusty. John Ciardi rules! love sneeze ---
**Author:** ![BarbieOrBritney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47774/32.png) [@BarbieOrBritney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarbieOrBritney)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anthracite-poetry-connection/94072/3 "2001-11-18T19:59:33Z")
That sounds right to me, **Sneeze**. 🙂 I really think I like this poem because it reminds me of all the times my own father (and on occasion, my mother) would cook just barely edible concoctions. The crowning victory of Nasty Foods, however, being salmon cakes…but I digress. While we’re on the topic, anybody ever read something that reminded you of another Doper? ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anthracite-poetry-connection/94072/4 "2001-11-18T21:25:09Z")
I can think of something that reminds me of **Anthracite**!. I am wearing a dark frosted grey nail polish called “Gris Anthracite”. I bought it two years ago, so it’s a wonder it’s not gone all gunged up. I have too many bottles of nail polish. Whenever I watch wrestling, I am reminded of **hardygrrl**. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anthracite-poetry-connection/94072/5 "2001-11-19T21:28:52Z")
I always think of **Anthracite** when listening to _The Shadow_) with Orson Welles. “Blue Coal – Pennsylvania’s finest anthracite!” ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anthracite-poetry-connection/94072/6 "2001-11-29T05:01:27Z")
More threads I missed being AFK for a week… For more anthracite-related poetry, I’m really surprised no one brought up [Phoebe Snow](http://home1.gte.net/stumpie/phoebe.htm): (note to Moderators: These were written circa 1890-1910, and should be out of copyright. If I’m wrong, please beat me - Una) > [@](#): > > Phoebe says And Phoebe knows > That smoke and cinders > Spoil good Clothes > 'Tis thus a pleasure > And delight > To take the road of Anthracite > > Miss Snow commends > Her road to friends > To one and all > This message sends: > “No route brings quite > As much delight > As cleanly road of Anthracite” > > Miss Snow draws near > The cab to cheer > The level-headed > Engineer > Whose watchful sight > Makes safe her flight > Upon the road of Anthracite > > Says Phoebe Snow > About to go > Upon a trip to Buffalo: > “My gown stays white > From morn till night > Upon the road of Anthracite” > > A coach or sleigh > Was once the way > Of reaching home > On Christmas Day > Now Phoebe’s right > You’ll expedite > The trip by road of Anthracite > > Devoid of fear > With roadbed clear > Miss Phoebe with > The Engineer > Notes green and white > Of signal light > 'Tis the safe road of Anthracite > > It’s time to go > Where records show > It’s cooler ten degrees or so > By Fahrenheit > Each Summer night > Along the road of Anthracite > > This is the priest in gown and band > Who married the couple out of hand > Because they looked so > fresh and bright > From the dustless road of Anthracite. > > The man in blue > now helps her through > and tells her when > her train is due. > He’s so polite. > Must be all right > Upon the Road of Anthracite > > The stars now peep > At her asleep > While the trackmen keen > Their nightwatch keep > For Phoebe’s flight > They do things right. > Upon the road of Anthracite > > Now Phoebe may > by night or day > enjoy her book > upon the way > Electric Light > dispels the night > Upon the Road of Anthracite > > Among the crew > The Flagman too > With Phoebe’s trip > Has much to do > His Flag and Light > Guide her right > Upon the road of Anthracite > > The Evening flies > till Pheobe’s eyes > grow sleepy under > Mountain skies. > Sweet dreams all night > are hers till light > Dawns on the Road of Anthracite > > Miss Snow may scan > Through journey’s span > Each keen and faithful > Tower-Man > Whose levers bright > Are swung a-right > Upon the road of Anthracite > > No trip is far > where comforts are. > An Observation Lounging car > adds new delight > to Pheobe’s flight > Along the Road of Anthracite > > Says Phoebe Snow > The miners know > That to hard coal > My fame I owe > For my delight > In wearing white > It’s due alone to Anthracite > > This scene reveals > a chef on wheels > with care preparing > Pheobe’s meals. > He, too, wears white > from morn till night > Upon the Road of Anthracite > > On railroad trips > no other lips > have touched the cup > that Pheobe sips. > Each cup of white > makes drinking quite > A treat on the Road of Anthracite > > Miss Snow, you see, > was sure to be > the object of > much courtesy, > for day or night > they’re all polite > Upon the Road of Anthracite > > This is the Maiden all in Lawn > Who boarded the train one early morn > That runs on the Road of Anthracite > and when she left the train that night > she found to her surprised delight > hard Coal had kept her dress still bright > When Hudson sailed into New York harbor he was seeking the “Northwest Passage” the Shortest Way to the West. > > If up the Bay > He came to-day > And asked to learn > “The Shortest Way” > Each wise polite > Manhattanite > Would answer > “Road of Anthracite” > > Says Phoebe Snow > “While some may wait > And hesitate > To bring their stations > Up to date > They’re new and bright > When you alight > From off the Road of Anthracite” > > Says Phoebe Snow > "Now that I see > How spotlessly > Your kitchen’s kept > It seems to me > It gives one quite > An appetite > This cleanly Road of Anthracite > > Yes Phoebe, I > Can now see why > The praises of > This road you cry. > My gloves are white > As when last night > We took the road of Anthracite > > Here are two commentaries upon consummation of the Erie - Lackawanna merger: > > On time the trip > Ends without slip > And Phoebe > Sadly takes her grip > Loth to alight > Bows left and right > “Good bye, dear Road of Anthracite!” > A service through > “From 2 to 2” > Which Phoebe Snow > Presents to you – > Two roads unite > To expedite > Your trip by Road of Anthracite. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anthracite-poetry-connection/94072/7 "2001-11-29T05:10:30Z")
If I wanted to know the road to Anthracite, I would damn well ask Fierra. She seems to be the expert 'round here… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anthracite-poetry-connection/94072/8 "2001-11-29T08:07:07Z")
There’s also a great song by [Serge Gainsbourg](http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Musee/1489/gainsbourg/texts/lanthracite.html) called ‘Anthracite’, which has been covered in English by [Mick Harvey](http://www.mutelibtech.com/mute/harvey/harvey.htm).