tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post6585017681889686693..comments2008-07-18T11:16:11.628-04:00Philip Metreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05449159681282927289pmetres@jcu.eduBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post-19239289736521736182008-07-18T11:16:00.000-04:002008-07-18T11:16:00.000-04:00Thanks, Joseph, and for your comment on Boland's poem, which I haven't yet read. Looking forward to it!Philip Metreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05449159681282927289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post-23813979052506414012008-07-17T11:09:00.000-04:002008-07-17T11:09:00.000-04:00Phil - Thanks very much for this thoughtful and necessary posting. "Mapping" is crucial for the poet. Otherwise, it seems to me, we end up in a fantasy world, a world which only exists in our smallnesses. (I know, not a word, but it makes the point I hope) This is why I found "Split This Rock" so crucial, as a gathering of poets devoted to "mapping" the whole story, as best one can. I am also reminded of Eavan Boland's "That The Science of Cartography is Limited" in which she explores "maps" or modern Ireland, which forget the horrific "famine roads" so many starving Irish were forced to build in the 1840s, which went nowhere. They are not visible on any map and the poet has to "map" those awful human memories. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, thanks for your thoughtful posting. J. RossJoseph Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12846489752701500697noreply@blogger.com