The miner works
the deep, dark earth,
far down a long, thin shaft,
discovering
and bringing up
the gold.
He does not
keep the gold,
nor does he.
want the gold itself,
but somehow to
become the gold.
Meanwhile, the gold
is currency
above the earth.
The miner goes
before the light,
to plumb
the lonely shaft again.
Maybe today he'll find
a vein containing
all he's never been,
a room with all
his dreams alive
and welcoming him home.
Max Reif
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-miner-3/