“An
imperfect map will have to do, little one”
-Joy Harjo
In the wilderness may our joy proclaim to us this imperfect map is what will bring us there from here to a far away nearness that is perhaps closer than it is far— it is hard to know sometimes the distance we are all carrying the map there after all is imperfect the map there has been drawn by a number of hands some gone some not yet arrived in sorrow may I abide my light in not knowing
the shape the sail may take
endure any wind’s palm placing itself upon the unfurled and billowing silk that delivers we are called towards so we go under our lost and heavy sun that keeps allowing us to travel alongside its warmth
bless its warmth
bless the distance between the sun and us as a measurement of this warmth may the blessing be a thing that ties us together for anything tied can be pulled hither so bless the distance between us and us between us and that faraway nearness bless the sail and the wind and bless too of course
this ocean and sea we are upon as its water gives way to the bow that even as it crashes itself against our hull too it carries with each wave of ocean turning over itself towards sky and sun like the sea too has known what it means to fold itself into prayer towards and unseen fullness and so assuredly sayeth we will make it through look behind us we already have made it through so much a little further though to go even if always it will be with this map of ours a little further to go, still it is only a little further
This is how we began: lay down that someone else may kneel close to you and trace the shape you make when laying against the earth stand up and do the same for them or another as another does the same for another and others hold up together these imperfectly drawn contours of self they are to the same place