Former Wright resident Roy Winder, a Wright Junior Senior High Class of 2011 graduate who now lives in San Antonio, Texas, has allowed County 17 to publish this poem he wrote in honor of the Wright Days 2023 celebration. Wright Days, the town’s festival, ran from June 15 to 18. This year, it featured kids’ games, sports competitions, a dance and more.
“Coal Dust and Cowboy Grit: The Tale of Wright, WY”
Out in Wyoming’s rugged land, where legends never fade,
There’s a town called Wright, where a coal mining heritage was laid.
Amidst the rolling plains and rugged mountains so high,
Let me spin a cowboy poem ’bout Wright, WY, and its coal mining supply.
Once upon a time, when pioneers sought their dreams,
They discovered veins of black gold, a treasure it seems.
With shovels and pickaxes, they toiled day and night,
Carving a future for Wright, built on coal’s glowing light.
The mines became the heartbeat, pumping life through the town
Where grit and determination were never let down.
Men of strong mettle delved deep into the earth,
Extracting riches from darkness, each miner proving their worth.
Through tunnels they’d wander, where shadows cast their spell,
In search of that black bounty, a tale to proudly tell.
With faces smeared with soot, sweat upon their brow,
They labored with passion, fueled by the coal’s sacred vow.
Generations have followed, carrying on the mining tradition,
In Wright, they’ve built a thriving industry, with resolute ambition.
Mighty machines now rumble, echoing strength and might,
As the town of Wright, WY, keeps the coal mining flame alight.
The miners, unsung heroes, beneath the earth’s embrace,
Extracting the lifeblood, with honor and grace.
Their calloused hands tell stories of sacrifice and sweat,
For in the heart of Wright, WY, the coal mining spirit is set.
The town thrives and flourishes, rooted in its coal’s embrace,
With the clatter of machinery, a symphony in that space.
Coal still fuels the homes, the power, and the dreams,
A vital thread woven within Wright’s very seams.
So let’s tip our hats to the miners, their spirit strong and bold,
In Wright, WY, their legacy will forever be told.
For the coal mining heritage, steadfast and true,
Ignites the flame of Wright’s spirit, burning bright and through.
In the heart of Wyoming’s frontier, where legends always rise,
Wright’s coal mining tale endures, under boundless skies.
A tribute to those who forged a destiny, strong and pure,
In the town of Wright, WY, where the coal mining spirit will endure.
