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| Photo by Autoridad del Canal de Panama, on Wikimedia Commons |
“On Building the Panama Canal”
(or parenting, or probably a lot of other things)
When I started this journey
it seemed
as if the trip
would be relatively easy
I envisioned
hard sweat
followed by
triumphant breakthroughs
cheering crowds
congratulatory celebrations.
I did not realize
the jungles would be so thick
the swamps so deep and strong
sucking
Bubonic-ridden
rats
so very large and fearless
When I started this journey
And I did not know there would be
so much decay
That machines that once seemed
impervious
could be reduced to rusty
flakes
in a matter of months
I did not realize there would be so
much
malaria of body
mind
spirit
When I started this journey
I did not realize
people would come and goso quickly.
I did not know friendship was so cheap
or compromise so expensive.
I did not know souls
could be bought for a dime or a quarter
When I started this journey,
I did not realize there would be
So much sailing bravely forward
followed by waiting endless hours
for water
controlled by others
to
rise.
And I did not realize times of
ascent
and smooth sailing
would be so quickly followed
by times
of descent.
That I would so often find myself in
deep water,
or with my head under water
that so much water
would need to go
under the bridge
When I started this journey
it seemed
as if the trip
would be relatively easy
(c) Carol Wilcox, 2014
3 comments:
Wow. Is this ever powerful. And true, unfortunately, for both sides of the metaphor.
Makes my little sidetrack into the spring snow seem trite and frivolous.
Thank you, as always, for your deep and heartfelt honesty.
Finally I am finding time to read what you and others are doing with Mary Lee's wonders. I just researched and then read Margarita Engle's Silver People about the canal. You've described it beautifully, and applied it well to your own life, Carol. The journeys are rough, but remember the canal was finally built!
Carol,
Your title is unique since it allows me to see into a two-sided journey of life and creation. Your detailed descriptions over a stretch of time provide insights into the Panama Canal and your life as a mother. Thank you for sharing such a powerful piece of writing.
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