Desire lines occur in many open spaces, most particularly green spaces but also through settled snow, the emergent evidence of ‘voting with our feet’ made literal. These lines represent an underlying pragmatism, rarely predicted, as pedestrian fast-ways circumventing attempts at constraint. Seeking the route of least resistance, these illicit shortcuts are typically the quickest or easiest route between two points. Not always, though, and some bear witness to avenues of escape, of adventure, of social gathering. Parks, campsites, school fields, campus grounds, all likely hold slow-told stories of their own, telling of the consensual but undeclared goal-directed behaviour abrading the landscape.
Desire lines
Of late, uncertain times have seen slow amendments to paths of desire. McFarlane’s ‘free-will ways’ endured constraint, suffering a new parameter born of contagion. The stipulated two metres of social distance, not so very dissimilar to a biblical four cubits, defined the borders to a reawakening of mythological narratives of fear. The invested patrons of pathways and desire lines were required to reach their goal via less undeviating routes. Changes were initially imperceptible. Small over-spills from habitual routes, incremental widening of boundaries, possessing no correspondence to increases in desire. The range expanded while the mean persisted. Next, these progressively indistinct boundaries ruptured, and un-desire lines appeared, new paths of avoidance and escape, the implicit unease of others now made explicit.
While the altered context was being etched on the landscape, human behaviour also necessitated adaptation. In a conservative nation, the shyness of contact between strangers was mitigated as the times required a deliberate search for eye contact to ensure mutual understanding, an early indication of intended course both asked for and given, perhaps a little nod, a half-smile, or minor roll of the eyes. The emotional distance despite physical closeness now less stark, even partially reversed.
Quickly, the ground over which we pass has captured the small changes, recognising and representing our behaviour, as the transient passage of every individual whispers layer upon layer until the memory-trace becomes tangible. Among the ebbing epidemic, as these un-desire lines, these emergent trails of dis-ease, slowly dissolve into the landscape, there remains time to consciously discern their presence, to accompany and to interact, to trace and acknowledge their restive transience, to wilfully invite mono no aware into your day.