Walking gloves

Across the map his fingers traced
the heartline of the land, would dawdle
near places just remembered, named
untold times by different peoples.

Over the hill, he sends his gloves
on expeditions with strict instructions
to find the few remaining fingers
still able to identify the old locations.

Lovers of lexicon, his gloves spend
less time with gamekeepers than
with children, inventors of tomorrow
playing secret places, new names.