Early Gold Mining Minty (Busting Up His Mines)

I’m gold mining in a tunnel in the desert, as it would be
Too cheesy to write “gold panning”—too close
To “gold penning”; and I’m digging and digging and digging, not realising
The gold I’m getting, only thinking I’m digging.
And I’m absolutely battering
My mine
Not caring too much for the destruction
I’m creating, and out gold comes anyway, not
That I can see that, it taking someone else
To say, “Look, Minty—you’re getting a lot of gold there!” as to tell
Myself I’m striking gold
Would feel arrogant (which is probably why I still need to mine); and I’d have to grasp
What I’m doing here at all
First anyway—why I’m in a dark tunnel. But I am; and
I’m giving the darkness it’s due, even while I’m digging up
So much gold. And now, they’ve given me an award!
For being the company’s best gold miner, the CEO
Telling me, “You were born to do this, Minty!” I still don’t know
What he’s on about, though: I’m just swinging an axe
In my mine (and perhaps
I’ve made up the award, the CEO,
Myself, as it’s clearly not “penning” yet).