Expansion and Contraction

I've seen the earth stretch out
in the evening as the sun sets,
when I haven't traveled
as far as I thought I would that day,
and more, much more I did not see,
and I wished to be there
instead of here, where I am.

But then, I've seen the earth contract
late at night as it cools,
and everything is lit by a campfire,
or is contained within four walls,
with the windows closed,
and it's all on the television screen,
or on the pages of a book,
and there's nowhere else I want to be,
but right here, where I am.