Bangladesh the vile ordeal
\nOf working in the forests where
\nBamboo grows tall to the sky
\nWe warriors cut it
\nWhich is why<\/p>\n
The jade stem green and verdant
\nIs carried by us and we
\nPut it on the river to float
\nPrecariously<\/p>\n
100 kilos thereabouts
\nNobody is in any doubts
\nOn the shoulders take the weight
\nAnd carry them down to the river
\nThe fate<\/p>\n
Of all the warriors working there
\nIs one of living just to share
\nThe small reward of getting it to
\nDacca which is hard to do<\/p>\n
Some have done this for ten years
\nAnd each time a lot of tears
\n300 kilometres is a long way
\nWith the levels lowering every day
\nRapids bends and banks all there
\nTo cause the convoy some despair
\nThe dangers for these rolling poles
\nIs getting crushed your significant roles
\nAre needed really to just stay calm
\nAnd keep each other away from harm<\/p>\n
As the river levels drop thats when
\nYou must walk the rafts and pull perhaps
\nTen
\nOr so, are driving the raft along
\nYou really have to be so strong
\nAnd there are bandits about who will try
\nAnd threaten you snd the reason why
\nThey want your bamboo and they want it bad
\nSo your wits you need you must not be had<\/p>\n
Fishing nets can hamper you
\nYour poles may actually cut through
\nThat when they just might expect you pay
\nFor their losses on any given day
\nIts a dangerous business all along
\nAnd Really anything can go wrong
\nThere is no insurance so they have to pray
\nThat really everything goes their way<\/p>\n
Some get injured a damaged knee
\nOr rope burned hands
\nWhereever you be
\ninfections spread
\nAnd you have to try
\nAnd just carry on
\nAnd wonder why
\nIt happened to you
\nAnd you have to be
\nAble to accept it and want to see
\nAn outcome really to get you through
\nTo earning your wage otherwise you do
\nLose out completely so needs must
\nOtherwise it would not be just<\/p>\n
By the time Dacca is in sight
\nThe buyers swarmon in on the morning light
\n300 poles 300 euros
\nUsed on construction such which shows
\nare taken by rickshaw
\nThrough the streets some will ignore
\nThe lengthy bendy pole that hang
\nOff the carts as they bang and clang
\nSo much work for so little wage
\nAnd the profit really is hard to guage<\/p>\n
So many man hours and risk as well
\nExhaustion too,it is such hell
\nGuiding those poles down rapids white
\nOr preventing them hitting the banks at night
\nAll these dangers can cost a lot
\nAnd every team has got a lot
\nOf worries commitments and utter stress
\nAnd all this work without redress
\nThey make a little and work a lot
\nAnd a really hard life they have all got<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bangladesh the vile ordeal Of working in the forests where Bamboo grows tall to the sky We warriors cut it Which is why The jade stem green and verdant Is carried by us and we Put it on the river … Continue reading