Maps

I roam over these maps in search of my next destination, calibrating the time zones and coordinates with the rhythmic beating of my own heart trying to adjust itself to where it will land. But no matter how long I stare at the curves of these continents, I cannot trace the path of my Beloved… the longitude of my true longing… or the altitude of my joy.

Comments on “Maps”:

joe says:
16 Jan 2011, 13:27

loved this short trip,just curious ,not being a writer why use longitude instead of depth(being an antonym for altitude). Is this a literary device with the long twice.how about('everlasting'joy). Still very good

The Nature of Us says:
17 Jan 2011, 00:09

Thanks for the comment joe! Well, the thinking behind that particular word choice was twofold - firstly, because paths, longitude, and altitude are all things that you use a map to trace, and secondly, for the lovely literary repetition of the 'long' in longitude and longing (like you said). But in truth it was more of an intuitive word choice coming out of my reflections on a particular period in my life in which I was finding myself crossing borders and oceans with frequency in my path of service to humanity. It is difficult to express what these journeys mean to me - certainly the images of countries on a map are inadequate to illustrate my experiences in the countries I have known, and yet to see the world all at once from this perspective on a map is at the same time mesmerizing to me somehow.