Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Adam Aitken

ON SAFARI

ON SAFARI

ON SAFARI

Such dirty work
turning dreaming tracks

into nature strips
that drunks fall over

on Larapinta Drive
and Heavitree Gap

a tribe oversees
the wrecker’s yard

punctuating the MacDonnells
first landmark into town

The traffic lights glow
with spiteful newness

in the crisp desert air of June
warning us to turn for home

Between Mario’s
and the Peking Palace

the arid zone cruise
of menu specials no one

claims are fresh
Then the traffic lights turn green

Mormons bike to work
in helmets of charisma

dayglo hamburgers
jammed in their saddles
Close

ON SAFARI

Such dirty work
turning dreaming tracks

into nature strips
that drunks fall over

on Larapinta Drive
and Heavitree Gap

a tribe oversees
the wrecker’s yard

punctuating the MacDonnells
first landmark into town

The traffic lights glow
with spiteful newness

in the crisp desert air of June
warning us to turn for home

Between Mario’s
and the Peking Palace

the arid zone cruise
of menu specials no one

claims are fresh
Then the traffic lights turn green

Mormons bike to work
in helmets of charisma

dayglo hamburgers
jammed in their saddles

ON SAFARI

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère