The creases and folds of Malham Cove

I had a moment

as I unfolded an old map recently

 

The cover worn

the folds in the paper well established 

and I saw

some forgotten pencil marks 

drawn on it

of a journey 

taken as a family

I took it in 

with my eyes

and also through my fingers

as I held the paper

 

I realised this was something missing from my work

when I add an illustration to a map

and it will be put

carefully

behind glass 

on wall

So I made this new one

of the limestone pavement above Malham Cove

where we explored this summer

There is rock

There is occasional bright yellow or green of a flower or fern growing in the shelter of a crack*

(*a gryke

as it is called

and I only remember

as many years ago

I dropped and lost a school tape measure 

down a deep one on a geography trip

and had to confess to my intimidating teacher)

 

and folded it

and kept it with me

like a map

as I travelled

 

For me

the folds and creases 

now tell their own stories

and remind me of my journeys 

this summer

 

If you would like one of my prints

folded as a map

and with its own cover

to pin on a wall

or into a picture frame

or to carry around with you

or to draw a favourite route onto

or to slide between books and other maps on a shelf

to be rediscovered

and unfolded again 

 

then please let me know

All the best

Chris Snow