Continents Contracted Into Safe Sanitary Distances Poem by Terence George Craddock

continents once seemed so far apart
so dangerous to travel hard to get to
distances in voyage measured in ship time
welcome to cramped unsanitary conditions
sailing ships at mercy of wind weather tide
at mercy of confined disease bad food doldrums
evils scurvy ship wreck piracy all wait risk ready
with sea sickness no sea legs to give helping hand

nightmare ship sinking drowning might visit nightly

continents distances contracted
technology steam diesel engines
aircraft modern safety standards
a month weeks of travel contracts
into a day hours on direct routes
nice food luxury food choice drinks

ghost sea sick pale dirty half starved passengers long past

hostess service awaits modern travelers
customs requires no isolation Ellis Island
cell phone internet communication instant
no uncertain snail mail time delivery delays
an ease of travel accommodation bookings
once unprecedented impossible to imagine