Yarrow House

Map Dreaming

Malacca. Niger. Bahia. Tunis.
Map names ring with promises:
adventure, treasure, truth.
Perhaps I’ll trace an ancient road
across the flat, white rocks of Aksai Chin.

Or maybe I’ll search the ruins 
of Corfu, burnt-out light and barren hills, 
azure water on rocks grinding 
the waves into a sandy froth.
Or someday walk along Kyoto’s 

narrow alleys, step aside to let
a geisha pass, cobbled shadow, sensuous, 
clattering step. In the pause I’ll map 
myself against her, woman for woman, 
we two, spinning the world between us.

Published in Borderlands, Court Street Press, Seattle: 1999

Onetime reproduction for non-resale purposes permitted by the author with the following credit line:  by Judith Yarrow