uncharted

I like to look at maps so
i know where not to go -
those places have
already been found
if you asked me how
to get to a place no one
has ever seen, I would
tell you to take a different route:

from the coast of Tanzania
take a schooner through the Maldives
inhale the spice laden wind
point yourself in the direction of hunger

veer north up a green and silent river
eat nothing but seaweed as
you pass through the night of wailing tongues

when you find a red maiden tree
sky gold with pale crescent moons
pull three monkeys from her branches
they will know who you are
name them as you let them go

come dawn the next morning
as mist is wading on the shoreline
when you see a young elephant
washing an elderly goat herder

keep still
they will look at you
nod but say nothing
they believe you to be
the spirit of a water god
you are

in time you will come
to a black sand beach
at the base of seven mountains;
follow the path of the white tiger
to where it is said
the Dalai Lama once resided

from there, look
for the highest perch of a twisted crevice
where falcons lay their one true egg
far above the cloud line of a black rain forest
there you will find your choice of direction

wait for a blue Myna bird to fly overhead
he will lead you to where
no one has ever been
do not try to chart it
it would be like
trying to draw a map
to your own heart

_{photos from pxhere and pixabay CC commons; edited by torico}