Map Reading for Beginners

By Philip Sidney

Sat, 11 Oct 2014
  • 1770 reads
12 comments
 

Wisdom criss-crosses 

the papery surface.

Colour, symbol, measure,

land,

made knowable,

traversable.

Reality,

scaled down.

 

Stroke the mossy rock,

trace contours in the dust,

breathe the unchartered air.

You are here.

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

I'm hopeless at map reading. Loved the ending 'You are here'. There's a sort of airy feel to your poem, Philip, full of possibilities.

Bee

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Bee - I don't have clue with maps either, but I like the look of them.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

The amount of work gone into producing them is massive isn't it, and we take for granted that we have such good maps. It is lovely looking at OS maps and imagining all those lovely places as you imply, and stirring memories, and realising how many places there are even in a small area that you haven't really explored, and all look different, and all vary with the season, the weather, the direction you take … Enjoyed your little musing, Helen. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Rhiannon.

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

Nice to think that something three dimensional can be transfered to a flat surface.

I like 'you are here'  not that that helps when you look at those large maps found in large towns never visited before.

Lindy

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks for reading Starfish girl.  I always look for the you are here n those big maps, I find it reassuring, even if I can't figure out where 'here' is.

Submitted by VeraClark on

This is lovely. Like how you've breathed life into flat bits and made connections.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Vera, I like the image of a blow-up map, breath into it and the reality appears.

Submitted by jeand on

HI Helen

I like maps too, and like this poem very much.

But I am now hooked on google earth maps - and love walking down the streets and paths with the benefit of photography, when I am going visiting somewhere.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

I know what you mean Jean!  I too love google maps, I've virtually walked streets allover the world, although I haven't been to most of the places, it is rather wonderful.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Loved this, Philip...rubbish as I am too at map reading.  Maps are fascinating things, though, which you highlight  so very well with this piece.

Tina

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much Tina!