How Life Does Curve - In Rhyme

How subtle is earth's curvature, but ships do disappear, At first glance, you might think there's edge, and sailors should steer clear But sailing close to coastal lands in time men lost their fear, For weeks, for months, they'd sail their ships with no edge coming near! It's harder guess (for men on land) for landscape's rise and fall, And block the view of what comes next, or if it’s there at all. Men's ships can go vast distances while they with drink forestall Dark fears. Their frail boats sail through space (a painting by Chagall). Six hundred years before Christ's birth, math proved the earth was round, And soon helped men know stars as well; the insight was profound, Though flat earth did tempt folks a while, Columbus was unbound, Sailed west, to find east route. Girth wrong! (First thought though still proved sound). Math proved religion’s crystal spheres with stars attached a joke, "Earth's center of creation" more a pious 'pig in poke,' Priests mostly fools whose egos serve false truths to simple folk. Is Science not CREATION too (if you've not had a stroke)? A bigger leap let Newton grok what holds our feet to earth, Same forces guide both moon and stars; True Science felt its birth! Gave hope to many men like me, who feel His absence's dearth, Provisions found for future days; we turn to God of mirth. Brian Johnston 19th of August 2018