The Progression of Civilizations

Small wooden boat, free
And naked, sailing to find
Meat, and to twine nets.

Then, cloth, linen or
Wool, and steely implements.
With beast-logistics.

Then, there is the coal
Of fire, and industry
And happy markets.

Then mechanical
Might replaces their strong beasts;
Manpower, machines.

Then computers link
Them to the whole wide world
So they grow angry.