Letter From a Map To a Diary

It’s no wonder you like secrets. 
It’s not that your thoughts are secretive in nature. 
It’s more that they are themselves a secret, penned on pages locked from view. 

Hidden thoughts intrigue me because my journeys are inked in plain view. 
Open roads and endless possibilities, I share them freely. 
I welcome visitors, even those that would hurt me 
With sharp pins to permanently mark their place on my heart.

You left your mark, too, but it was no pinprick. You inked a new road, a secret road. 
As we traveled, I admired your depth and substance. I saw it in the width of your spine. 
I fell in love with the light inside you. I saw it in the crisp white of your pages,
Though I only saw the edges. 
I tried to pry the light out from the shadows cast by your cover, but it was locked. I never found the key. 
I touched every inch of your leather exterior, but I never caressed the threads of those inner pages.
I never saw your handwriting.

I’ll never understand how you can keep something so illuminating as your very thoughts and ideas
Hidden in such a dark place. 
Aren’t they lonely? Don’t they long to jump out of those pages and join someone on a journey? 
I wanted to take them with me, speed along the interstates, meander along my curvy side roads. 
I imagined you falling in love with my wandering spirit, 
With my thousands of words, my secretive symbols, even my aging creases. 
Even now as I reflect on our secret road, 
I am aligning it in my mind to the current location of my “YOU ARE HERE” sticker, 
Evaluating, “Does it fit here,” “Does it fit now?” 

But who am I kidding?  You don’t belong on the open road. You belong on a side table in a quiet room. 
You exist to reflect, I exist to explore. 
If we extend this road any longer, it will override other journeys I am meant to discover. 
If we extend this road any longer, it will expose your secrets.

We will continue to inspire curiosity in our own ways, 
But I will no longer desire what’s locked in your protected pages. 
I will no longer daydream of folding myself up and snuggling into your binding, 
Finding comfort as a bookmark that shares each entry with you, page by page by page. 

But don’t worry; you’ll still know where I am. My path is imprinted on the very fiber of my being.
I won’t let pinpricks or impenetrable locks sway me from my transparent ways. 
I’ll simply journey on. It’s what I do.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Kendrick Avatar
May 12, 2015 at 2:52 PM
Congrats on your winning work..Sara
Tarango Avatar
May 12, 2015 at 5:44 PM
Thank you! I'm new here, so still learning my way around.
Trichet Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 6:21 PM
Awesome Terra, congrats on a well deserved win. Loved it. :)
Tarango Avatar
May 12, 2015 at 5:44 PM
Thank you! I'm new here, so still learning my way around, but inspired already!
A  Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 10:54 AM
Terra :) Congratulations on having your poem featured this Mothers Day. SKAT love
Richards Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 10:14 AM
There is so much depth, with feelings of discovery that comes with the journey we are on. You have put so much into this poem ! Well deserving the 1'st place! Congratulations!
A   Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 9:59 AM
Terra, congratulations, wishing you a wonderful Mothers Day.... Always & Forever ~LINDA~
Allison Avatar
May 10, 2015 at 8:22 AM
this is a beautiful write for the contest the imagery is brilliant - many congrats on your win:-) Hugs Jan xx
A   Avatar
May 5, 2015 at 2:41 PM
Terra, A nice warm WELCOME to poetry soup. I hope you have fun with this wonderful community. You'll find many friendly poets who are ready to support and give positive feedback. I will enjoy following you and your poetry when you are ready :) We are Lucky To Have you. Enjoy 2015, with New Poet Friends @-> LINDA <-@
A  Avatar
May 5, 2015 at 8:55 AM
A good way to live life, Terra, Stopping by with a nice, sweet Welcome to Poetry Soup. I will get much delight in reading and in time become familiar with your verse. As for now, I will greet you with the same smile others passed when I first joined the soup. Wishing you and your poetry the best. I hope you get to meet all the nice poets around here STARTING with me- SKAT :-) Please drop a hello and tell me a little about yourself if you wish. I would like to be your newest poetry soup "FRIEND" Hugs* SKAT
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