Uncommonly Fast

By: Shirley Lovell

The speed at which the common cold
Can travel is fantastic.
It puts the speed of light to shame.
To be a bit sarcastic.

It's never caught in line ups, nor
Is ever put on hold.
Its super speed and stamina
Deserve Olympic Gold.

If scientists could isolate
This rapid mode of flight,
Apply it to our present lives,
The outlook would be bright.

Imagine airplane trips so fast
That jet lag they'd prevent,
And mail, can you believe it, would
Arrive before it's sent.

There would be no more traffic jams
If cars all came with wings.
And fast food would come faster than
If served with rubber slings.

Each year our lives get faster.
That's better so we're told.
One day we might pull out and pass
That speedy Common Cold.

But could this pace prove harmful and
Our lives become unstrung?
Might we wake up one day and find
We're old before we're young?

Shirley Lovell-The Ingersoll Times, Wednesday March 15, 2000