Cartography was first written in 2005, it references sites locally in South Cambridgeshire where Clare moved to in 2000.
It was first published in the literary magazine Chapman in July 2006 (ISBN-13: 978-1-903700-17-4) and then appeared on the Fen Song CD ‘A Ballad of the Fen’, 2008. The poem changed following review for Fen Song and the first version here, with Clare’s reading, is that later version. The original text is included below.
Cartography
An old map shows how the field was once hedged
and strips of land planted with orchards,
before they grew wild.
Perhaps this accounts for
the feeling of Eden, branches of hazel and elder
left where they fall.
I never see them, the others who come here.
They have bridged the ditch with a plank,
made a fire in the clearing put a circle of
stones under the chestnut tree.
But I know they have been here: a thread of cotton
an empty tin on a stick, marks this rough ground.
I wonder if they notice my footsteps,
places where I have lain in the grass.
We share the same knowledge:
the deep of these woods, where no one else visits.
How deer cross in the first light,
with an unblinking stare.
Like us when the sky is outlined by the ash,
and we pass through, unseen
and the trees hold us there.
(2008)
Cartography
An old map shows how the field was once hedged,
and strips of land planted with orchards,
before they grew wild.
Perhaps this accounts for
the feeling of Eden, branches of hazel
and elder left where they fall.
I never see them, the others who come,
They have bridged the ditch with a plank,
made a fire in the clearing, put a circle of
stones under the chestnut tree.
A thread of cotton, and an empty tin on a stick,
marks this rough ground.
I wonder if they notice my footsteps,
places where I have lain in the grass.
We share the same knowledge:
the deep of these woods, where no one else visits.
Deer crossing in first light,
with unblinking stares.
When the sky is outlined by the ash
and we pass through unseen,
as the trees hold us there.
(2006)
For more of Clare’s readings, see Poem Readings. And you can also find Clare’s readings of her poems for the Waterlight Project at that project’s site.
All poems © Estate of Clare Crossman