Paper Space - edit

[dukealien]

Paper Space


It’s more important
to have a map
than that it correspond exactly
with terrain you travel.

Likewise a calendar:
it needn’t match
your present month, just show
succeeding days to live.

original version;

They say it’s more important
to have a map
than that it correspond
exactly to
the local territory...

same with a calendar
which needn’t match
the present month
only show
each day sequentially.

[busker]

The takeaway being that keeping track of time in these days like all other days is still important, perhaps?
Nice.
Could trim a bit, methinks. 'Same with' / likewise, and is the whole 'needn't match the present month' necessary, or does 'only shows each day sequentially' deliver the same message more succintly?

[Erthona]

Duke,

Maybe drop the "they say". It is sort of a nonsensical phrase unless one is going to define who"they" are. A map should never be mistaken for the reality as there are too many variables that need inclusion in order to be accurate. However, a calendar was never thought to be anything more than a place holder of the passage of time, so I am not sure there is an equivalency be tween the two. I feel I am missing something, can you give me some clarity?

best,

dale

[dukealien]

edit1;

It’s more important
to have a map
than that it correspond exactly
with terrain you travel.

Likewise a calendar:
it needn’t match
your present month, just show
succeeding days to live.

---

Thanks to both critics.  I hope this revision (which went a bit further than expected) aids understanding - if not agreement - while aligning with the general theme of simplification and something like explanation.

I think I first encountered the idea that having a map is better than no map, even if it's not an accurate one in Robert Pirsig's "Lila," where it comes up with what he called the Cleveland Harbor Problem.  He was sailing his yacht ("Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" set him up pretty well) along the south shore of the Great Lakes and meant to put in at Cleveland Harbor.  It being hazy and he not an expert navigator, he followed the map of Cleveland Harbor up to a dock (grouchy on account of inaccuracies) where he found he hadn't reached Cleveland Harbor at all.  But it was a dock, and a perfectly good resting place.

From this reflections on morality ensued.  The calendar bit is mine, one of those things that just pop into your head.