
A shaft of light beamed down
Through sheets of tropical rain
Glowed in outstretched palms
Fraught with lingering pain.
As rains fell in a fury
Like tears in a flood of rage
The elder stood sore and weary
At the sight of what he surveyed.
Deluged by memories of Eden
Lost in the endless brigade
To cull the jungle for profit
As if a penny arcade,
Where rainbow colored tears
From one armed bandits stray
Oil streaming from virgin lands
Beauty, blessed, betrayed.
Vanished in the slaughter
Countless bounties to be mourned;
The groves of El Dorado
Now dying and forlorn.
Standing in solemn reverence
As rains came to a halt,
He held his gaze ahead
In the steam of this jungle vault.
Witnessing, at dusk, a warning,
As ghostly remnants remained,
Poised in silent testament
Where giants of Earth once reigned
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