In The Channel Tunnel

It takes 35 minutes to travel the Channel Tunnel 24 miles under murky fathoms of deep Napoleon would have loved this foxy link Not wishing to ruin nearby Shakespeare Cliff Men, from its waste, erected Samphire Hoe, Seeded with wildflowers, a recreation site. The Chunnel may host invasions, welcome rabies, Illegal immigrants wishing a slice of the pie That is crumbling, the Welfare State Now I am sampling this highway for migrants, merchants, Pirates, policemen, from Dover, Kent and Plymouth Normandy and Flanders, Calais and wines I close my eyes in the capsule of the train As giant conger eels, blue sharks, glide overhead Wrecks groan on the sea bed, white boned mackerel Drowned men turn like driftwood in the waves I think of miners, tremors, shafts collapsing The tin walls of the train speed on regardless