Map of My Country
Annotated by John Holmes
"Map of My Country" is the title poem of Holmes' fourth book of verse. Holmes incorporated into this poem fragments and whole poems culled from his previous work along with new composition. (Map of My Country, p. xvi-xvii)
In 1954, Holmes typed a copy of the poem with lengthy annotations, explaining the choices behind the evolution of the poem. This annotated version has been recreated here. The only changes made are to the layout of the text. Holmes, who was, of course, working on a typewriter, laid out his annotated poem in a single column, with notes following the lines to which they pertain. Here, the linked notes have been placed into popup windows which are link.