THOUGHTS IN GEOGRAPHY CLASS CIRCA 1966

 

can you fall off of the map of the world

in class the map of the world was flat in the textbook

or in front of the class

I thought about this or would have if I could have

sitting in geography class in high school

with the map pulled down like a venetian blind

to view the countries of the pink and green designs

of course in the oceans of blue with coral, too

with different names throughout the world as they

curve to the shores not just the big blue waters

I could see all the land masses swimming in

or the jade or the lemonade stirred with a spade

I am useless in this class

and soaring on clouds intangible clouds

at the mention of longitude and latitude;

the meridians;the sea lanes, ah...

I dont want to learn about the wars

and who fought whom, the sorrowful cargo

I can't bear to be tested on.

I just want to think in a romantic's way

about continents drifting apart

about the city states made out of dreams

and to tell long made up fairytales about

these.,mythical kingdoms,tropical fruits,

strange birds sighted and mango trees and

small ivory carved, the gifts of the heart

brought back for pirate sweethearts.

Atlantis, glittering through such crystal clear waters

here and there a gleam

languishing,

waiting to be found.

mary angela douglas 2 july 2023