An Ode to the Future of Cartography
I was asked to share my thoughts on the future with maps
Well, I mainly see uncertainties be and expand
Boiling wars, fierce storms, floods, and doom’s heavy demand
Climate urgency, fires, emergencies, what’s left of this land
But I long for maps that share the landscapes of my dreams
Where whispering winds tell tales that shift with the streams
A map of lost things, where memories dance and gleam
Maps of endless possibilities, with futures yet unseen
Maps where stars and moons reveal new paths in the night
A dreamscape world where shadows and light unite
Lost treasures await in corners, hidden from sight
As synesthetic hues turn sound into vibrant light
Yet, I fear maps will remain shrank into screens where we zoom in and out
And people will still ask me if I make Google Maps, no doubt!
I make my maps with strings that vibrate; you hear them loud
I just express myself quirky, creative, apparently a fairground
Treads that weave a process, data on blooming flowers
Like it or not, maps will always have unlimited powers
I wish for maps of joy, where wars don’t roam about,
Where pandemics cease, and justice’s voice will shout,
A world where solidarity is the norm, throughout,
No bombs, no hunger, no borders harsh and stout,
Where every community is seen, and love is devout.
I dream of maps inclusive and sound.
For every line we draw, in every map we make,
Lies the power to heal, to unite, and to awake.
I invite you to let us dream, let us dare, and let us design,
A world where our maps reflect humanity’s shine.
This poem was produced after an invitation to contribute at the opening ceremony of the EuroCarto 2024 conference in Vienna.
Many thanks for the honourary invitation to Next Generation Cartographers
Photo by Marko Tošić
