the virus

even those who live in the west agree that the sun rises in the east 

from where millennia ago wisemen came to witness a birth

wherefrom in this moment hails a death faerie 

wordless toxicant known by all 

wrath understood by none

around the world hands are held in prayer  

naked bodies are adorned with virgin leaves 

within deep forests wulomo priests gather in white cloth 

in the adytums of pallas athena the pontifex rallies high priests

just as desciples of eastern faiths gather to plea to alien gods 

who silently watch our efforts to colonize the heavens