Near Wuhan [by David Shapiro]

I wandered lonely as a map
I had to return to the poisonous, little town of Wuhan
I played with my father’s ancient microscope
And I played with my mother’s telescope
And I met my sister’s metronome
And I walked to the line, the laser line
And I met and I sang
On my way through the buddhafields
On my way through each snowy peak
And I wandered through each snowy jag
I wandered, and that was that
And that was that
I wandered lonely as a map
Showy words and every word
And that was that
Near the poisonous little town of Wuhan
And that was that

--David Shapiro
10 / 25 / 20

From the archive; first posted October 30, 2020