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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks for sharing this, @Sara Maria.G.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Loss always seems to be a bit sad, Kathleen

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you for sharing this, @Diane’s Blue Forum

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Grateful to Lady G for sharing this, thank you @Geraldine A. V. Hughes !

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks to @Teresa Gonzales for the restack

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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

That last verse is stunning. Great work, Paul.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Martin. When I was a child, I used to marvel at the kinds of atlases housed in our local library. I remember one atlas that featured only the state of Wisconsin with a map of each county and illustrations of prominent homes and buildings in different parts of the state. It was printed in the early years of the 20th Century, before WWI, and the homes were all Victorian types of architecture.

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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

That's a good memory to have - especially for a poet who constantly wonders about the way each part works in itself, and then how it all adds up to a bigger picture.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks, @Kathleen Hobbs, I appreciate the restack!

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Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

You're welcome, Paul

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks to @Lique for sharing this.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks to @Bliss Grey for the restack

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks to @Alison Redford for sharing this.

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Alison Redford's avatar

You’re so welcome-it’s outstanding!

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks to @Tonianne Baca-Green for restacking this

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks for the restack, @Patricia Andrews (WA)

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Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

I read this and thought of atlases gathering dust on library shelves, and how every exile secretly keeps a map folded in the lining of their coat, just in case the country opens its arms again.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks for that comment, Gloria!

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Patris's avatar

Because we dare hope, yes?

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Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

Yes!

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Richbee's avatar

Geographic contours still sweep with waves on shores to make new sculptures of land . Exile is a fan on a tropical isle. A freezer in cold regions. Yet the mountains form peaks and valleys and are named after those we love and miss.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Read me as if you were blind and I were braille.

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Richbee's avatar

The fingers touch tips to see the shape of images.

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Grace Drigo's avatar

Some of us are well versed in the geography of love. Magnificent poem Paul. 🩵🩵

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Grace 🩵🩵

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Rolando Andrade's avatar

"Your hands

once mapped my skin". This one hit me very powerfully Paul. I think touch, human touch, is a wonderful way to express love and desire, also acceptance and empathy. It begins when we are born, with the mother- child touch. And I think this poem is a kind of touch in our souls. Thank you

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Rolando

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Stanley Wotring's avatar

A map of and about love.

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Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Love and it’s loss, Stan.

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