When the gringo came to our fertile shore
There were no mosquitos in Panama lore.
Of course they were here as some confess
but they just hung around in camoflage dress.
At first some said it was a hygiene thing
“You knew the French would illness bring”
“They don’t take baths”
and, “They killed their king.”
Then Americans rallied and sent their best
And hundreds more were put to rest.
“We’ll build a canal,” their President said,
and “Damn the mosquitos and full speed ahead!”
Or something like that, and more people were dead.
They died with their boots on -- the American way,
but the mosquitos kept coming to ruin their day.
An American doctor declared war on that thing
and showed battalions of people what equipment to bring.
All credit was given to American science
for teaching the people to have such reliance.
As the gringos would have it the mosquitos all died
And the Canal was built to the other side.
But when it was time to put up a plaque,
Jimmy Carter went and gave everything back.
So, when you all ask “How did it go?”
We have Panama’s version for you to know:
It was the mosquito that triumphed in a strange sort of way,
they were “Just following orders” we hear them now say.
In a gesture of selfless insect defiance
The mosquito fought Panama’s patient compliance.
It was “For Panama’s good” the mosquitos had tried
and it was “For Panama’s future” the mosquitos had died.
If you are ever asked about this on a test,
This is the answer the people like best:
It can all be blamed on this country’s great pride
that the mosquitos committed mass suicide.
Author notes
This is a playful look at the way that history is sometimes revised for the text books.
Written July 2nd, 2005
A contest entry
- Pre Written Rhyme by piccola.
900 points, ended February 5, 2008, 23 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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I thrive on such encouragement.
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Bravo!!
Love Love LOVE it!!
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Agreed with Littleboots, the rhyming was just brilliant, nothing sounded forced or indecently put together. I love the context also, although im not quite sure if it is actually about mosquitos in general or society and america. either way a very good write! congrats!
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congrats on the gold. your rhyme is suburb and it was a very enjoyable read
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wonderful! I couldn't wait to read this just because of the title! The rhyme was great and I love the line, "damn the mosquitos full speed ahead." filled with humor and that little twist of history. Great job thanks for your entry.
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Wish I had you as a history teacher those many years ago.
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You could say, that when I saw the way Panama has changed their history after the reversion of the Canal to Panama, I was driven to poetry. I continue to run my poems in the on line version of the Panama News under the pen name of Diego Santiago.
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hahahaah...wow you spoke the truth....its nice to see the otherside of things...the truth the history books don't teach.
Thanks for entering
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wow thanks for your wonderful entry ! i really loved this ! best wishes in the contest !
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