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That’s how Columbus was. Against his will
And his smart thoughts and his power to convince,
Everybody else’s ignorance
Couldn’t stand a chance; which brings us still
Around to that same old question: why
Did he discover it? Because he was him!
Some foreigner sailing on the ocean’s rim ─
What could he discover? How to die!
But he did things nobody thought he’d do,
And if he’d had some help along the way,
Would have sailed on to accomplish miracles.
What’s more, if he had only had a few
Of the fancy gadgets sailors use today,
He’d have discovered twenty-five Americas.
(Translated by John Du Val)