his box of maps in the attic

it's a box

of maps, of an Atlas,

thick

with lines

and yellowed pages.

grids,

numbered.

road maps,

paper

maps,

folded and stuffed away,

for safe keeping.

circles of

coffee rings

browned on the thin sheets.

local

and state,

world maps.

some with ink stains

where he

drew his pen along blue

highways.

a compass

too.

stops along the way

to sleep

or eat.

places he didn't know,

places he knew.