Globe

one of my most prized possessions-
is a vintage globe
beige seas dominating the surface
each country a bright color
the entire world is unchanging

when I was 6 each country had an adventure
Egypt was infested with ancient tombs and mummies buried in sand
Japan had Samurai wielding magnificent swords to battle for honor
China had the great wall and noble emperors to meet
The Congo was a dense jungle filled with exotic birds and plants to discover
England had a king and queen to knight me on a red carpet in the throne room
the middle east wasn’t interesting

The world was small-
I could pick it up –
travel from my room to India in an hour
and the only difference between Israel and Iraq was shape

but now-
Egypt is a land in a turmoil
The Congo is filled tribal warfare
China is where everything is made by almost-slaves in
and the middle east is always on the news-
my screen filled with horrific and disturbing images

I wish the world was small again
I wish I could hold it in my hands-
I wish the world was filled with adventures-
and that I could see it as I once did

my old views of Earth are disintegrating
repalaced by more complicated scenes
requring me to think