Learning from traveling enriched our intellect with new realization.
         Launching a voyage of mind, we embarked on QE with high expectation.
         Legacies of Queen Elisabeth liner live on allowing for luxuriating.  
         Who would have guessed her role in war times of soldier transporting?

         The drama of daily new arrivals staged ever-shifting sceneries.
         The present becomes clearer with more meaning by delving into histories.
         Mélange of new knowledge and old memories sanctified my consciousness,
         Not being fooled by the endless gift shops laden with deceiving business.

         A journey where paganism, Christianity and Islam contrasted in a high degree,
         Ghostly apparition of Crusades along the coastline of the Adriatic Sea,
         The onslaught of Ottoman's fleet against Venetians over the Ionian Sea,
         Paul's Epistles during his missionary voyage on the Aegean Sea,
         The defense of Constantinople by the Dardanelles Strait during Byzantine,
         The Golden Horn Chain at the Bosphorus, which stopped enemies' naval fleets,
         And the Black Sea, the home of the legendary hunt for the Golden Fleece,
         I want to devour stories of antiquity and Biblical Truth in a learning spree.

         Despite Diocletian's low family status, through military ranks, he aspired. 
         His Tetrarchy led off the divided structure of the Roman Empire.
         Christians' final persecution in utmost horror, he conspired.
         In his Palace at Split expressing his life-long conquest, he retired.

         Dubrovnik, a city state survived through centuries among superpowers,
         And reborn from devastating earthquakes and Yugoslav artillery's shower.
         Expressed through an Italian prism, Ragusa's city walls compares with Rhodes. 
         Summer festivals, spring-breaks for young, tourism explodes.

         The aura of Poseidon's arrival with his abducted bride gave birth to Corfu.
         Empress Sissy's plea to Archilles could not soothe her from son's tragic snafu.
         The dancing sun rays in the translucent turquoise water feasted snorkeling eyes.
         The weeping defaced facade of Royal Palace struggled in Greece's economic demise.

         Ephesus where Apostle Paul revealed God's "Fullness of the times",
         Punctuated a historical pivot point conquering silversmiths' crimes.
         The blue column of the Artemis Temple paid homage to Hagia Sophia.
         Pilgrimage to Virgin Mary's house elicited heavenly song of Ave Maria.

         Therapeutic air of Yalta soothed Soviet elites' lungs at enjoyable Sanitariums.    
         Swallow's nest sitting precariously on the steep cliff with perfect equilibrium.
         "Uncle Joe's" ploy in Livadia Palace lured Roosevelt and Churchill
         in signing each nation's postwar fate disrespecting many ethnic groups' will.
    
         Thanks to the Duc, every aspect of Odessa cried out with pride of being French.
         The Axis siege; the massacre of Jews sparked an instant urge to flinch.
         The Labyrinth of Odessa's Catacombs from mining lime stones defies sanity.
         The rescue of the sinking opera house witnessed an effort of audacity.

         The roar of morning gusts pierced the silent dawn of Nessebur.
         Captain declared no tender boats be allowed to her rough sea harbor.
         Waving our disheartened hands and bidding our goodbyes,
         We then reentered Bosphorus at daytime without more sighs.

         The panorama view of QE's Commodore Lounge straddling over Bosphorus Strait
         United two great Continents and chronicled thousands years of war portrait.
         The six minarets of the Blue Mosque shouted the Sultan's poetic oratory.
         The treasures of Topkapi Palace exhibited Ottoman Empire's glory.

         The hanging roof of Hagia Sophia commanded Logos or God's wisdom.
         Different conquering ideologies in its foundation remains were hidden.
         Did Sophia prophesy an inter-faith fusion through ecumenism?
         Are Christendom, Muslim or Sheikdom all Abraham's descendants?

         1915 Gallipoli Campaign marked another historical horror from futility of war. 
         Memorials by Dardanelles Channel symbolize a lesson of anguish not to ignore.
         Conquering or winning does not epitomize what true heroism stands for.
         Defending humanity for a moral cause even for suffering enemies incites us to adore.

         Disembarking with loaded stomach also checked out my mind full of stories.
         Photos and videos seized those cherished moments carved in my memories.
         Learned knowledge whets more desire for further inquires
         Or, perhaps, another voyage sailing into deeper mysteries?
 

         Mother Nature's cursing, wild fire raging
         Dark Knight's firing with bullets showering 
         Joker's mad game became deadly murdering. 
         Grievance over dead bodies beyond shocking

         When prankish fun of virtual world desensitizes morality;
         When a confounded mind loses its discernment of reality;
         When decision brings about irresponsible brutality;
         When human society turns into chaotic community; 

         Can traditional values uphold young mind's sensibility? 
         Has family succeeded in teaching responsibility?
         Would religious institutions inspire youngsters on humanity?
         Has leadership invigorated youth with soundness of sanity? 

         Have we kept up law enforcing policies with new technology?
         Should we redefine ethic codes in the evolving society?
         Hollywood's responsibility? What about Gaming Industry?
         Human minds faulty, civilization matures into futility!