Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CUT ACROSS; A SONG OF THE PANAMA CANAL, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CUT ACROSS; A SONG OF THE PANAMA CANAL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Says new york to yokohama
Last Line: "visit often, -- cut across!"
Subject(s): Panama Canal; Canal Zone


Says New York to Yokohama,
To Calcutta and Bombay,
To Peking, Manila, Bangkok,
Sydney, Shanghai, Mandalay:
"I am building you a channel
Safe and easy -- I'm the boss!
It's a short and simple journey.
Come and see me: cut across!"

This the call of San Francisco
To Berlin and Liverpool,
To Vienna, Cairo, London,
Naples, Paris, and Stamboul:
"I am making you a roadway,
It's a modern, mighty foss;
And the distance now is -- nothing.
Come and see me: cut across!"

Uncle Sam says to the nations,
Nations big and nations small:
"I am keeping open house now,
And invite you to a call.
For the world is growing narrow,
And an ocean but a toss,
When our ships can pierce an isthmus.
Come and see me: cut across!"

And the nations sing in chorus,
Sing a song of happy peace:
"Now we are so close together,
It is time that wars should cease.
Fighting is a wretched business;
Loss, and loss, and only loss.
Let us live as friends and neighbors, --
Visit often, -- cut across!"





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