by Sakina Milan
Maps provide information
Through the use of symbols
Symbols, symbolic, meanings,
I’m sure everything has a meaning,
Whether it’s sadness, anger, joy, or fear.
I’m told that there is almost always a meaning
behind everything,
I’m told green curtains represent secrecy,
That the quiet black cat represents mystery,
That me taking a nap represents my laziness,
And that my confusion represents how dumb I can be.
Symbols are confusing.
Am I always supposed to know what something represents?
Right off the bat?
Am I always supposed to know
What does “something” mean?
The other day when my friend introduced me and said,
“She’s literally my best friend”,
But then doesn’t talk to me when I see her in the halls,
Yet again leaving me confused,
Am I supposed to know if she was lying?
Other types of Earth scientists use maps
To study changes in Earth’s surface over time.
After years of school and experiments,
Of sleepless nights and unlimited coffee,
Scientist can tell the changes of the Earth
Just by looking at the surface.
So I’ve tried it,
Sticking to only looking at the surface,
Because If I try to search into any deeper meaning,
Looking deeper into a map and judging by the symbols,
Then I won’t know what I’m looking at.
And I’ll take the wrong roads.
Or I’ll observe the wrong shifts in the surface,
And I won’t understand any changes.
My world will change and I won?t understand how.
The air will become suffocating,
The water will become too salty,
And I realize that I’m slowly sinking into the dirt,
The soil, worsening with every misunderstanding.
And every thought I?d ever had
All having the same symbols.
And now I’ll wish
That I was able to understand so many things
Through the use of symbols.
About the Author
Sakina writes about love, longing, and the quiet emotions people often struggle to put into words.