ON COLUMBUS DAY

when reminded he never set foot in "America"

that he thought the West Indies were our continent

that the natives were naked and almost non-existent

the theme of TERRA NULLIUS came up-

how signs of civilization include permanent settlement

hence Gypsies and Palestinians with no territories

have neither maps nor settlements,and GOOGLE

must obscure events that are too real for TV

Indigenous stories are oral,sometimes visual

Buddhist sand yantras as teaching tools 

Ocher daubings on cave walls as maps of hunting areas

We genetically define areas via use and description

Digitalising our world for Satnav and GPS 

often leads to data reviews and outright censorship

For the map is not the thing,and we are more than maps

British Empire pink gave way to Chinese reds

Modern maps for many purposes made by the CIA

reveal areas of strategic importance.HERE BE WHALES!

HERE BE DRAGONS! You will fall off the edge of the earth

if you ever believe that maps give you the full story.

X  You are here..Map your way out of this labyrinth...