for Sister Mary Ita, RSM
the map shows they were there
not how they felt about it
shows precisely where
they drifted off course
not how they fastened themselves in dreams
to a North Star unerringly
obscured by clouds;
then dreamed they were eating the waves.
of Neptune they knew nothing;
of mermaid music, perhaps
a phrase,
the phases of the moon.
what tested them we think
the greed for treasure,
the wind, the gales of water,
hardtack diminishing
and the vintage spoiled.
we don't suspect the many
times below deck
or steering through
the ceaseless blue
they woke to think they were
only at home on land
and never should have
burned to leave
the map cannot disclose.
the map deceives.
the map is a tomb.
mary angela douglas 8 january 2018
the map shows they were there
not how they felt about it
shows precisely where
they drifted off course
not how they fastened themselves in dreams
to a North Star unerringly
obscured by clouds;
then dreamed they were eating the waves.
of Neptune they knew nothing;
of mermaid music, perhaps
a phrase,
the phases of the moon.
what tested them we think
the greed for treasure,
the wind, the gales of water,
hardtack diminishing
and the vintage spoiled.
we don't suspect the many
times below deck
or steering through
the ceaseless blue
they woke to think they were
only at home on land
and never should have
burned to leave
the map cannot disclose.
the map deceives.
the map is a tomb.
mary angela douglas 8 january 2018
