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PANAMA CANAL

 

An awe inspiring channel built by the sweat and toil of man

Who'd slaved and died with picks and shovels in torn and bloody hands

Their backs were burnt and blackened by the scorching heat of the sun

Cooler nights brought no respite when the mosquitoes had their fun

And in this human hell hole no value was put on their lives

Nobody cared that they too could have mothers, children and wives

Only that they were able to work at the pace that was set

Till sinking sun, told day was done or their quota had been met

As locks rise and fall beneath us I picture how it would have seemed

Giant earth eating worms snaking through the jungle lush and green

But nature has her own way of planting mantles as a screen

Grass covered hills and thick dense woods she hides what once had been

This feat of engineering could easily have spoilt and marred

The landscape with concrete and buildings like huge grey ugly scars

But someone with great foresight drew up a non development plan

Which kept these transit canals like rivers winding through the land

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