the imaginary tourist

Larson studies the atlas
like a med student
studying a corpse.

he pours over the arterial
network of roads and
highways and
rivers,
memorizing the
capital of
every state; the
name of every
country and island of
every continent.

he gets the newest
edition every year and
makes note of every update,
every new road or
town or park.

but, Larson has never
left Utah, has lived
within a 5 mile
radius of his
parents' house his
whole life,
and has no urge
to visit abroad.

he likes to
know everything he can
about the places of
this world,
just as long as
only his fingers
do the walking.
 

-published in Lunatic Chameleon #3