watercolours

after Moonta, on the Copper Coast

every small town
and tourist region in the state
must have a watercolour artist
on call
to paint impressionist visions
of cafes, pubs and various local
heritage listed attractions
onto 3 x 5 canvas

and stock them as postcards
on the pristine shelves
of red-bricked former railway stations

as evidence for the wealth
of what to see and do
for every member
of the family

but I like to think he’s just the one man

working from a city office
on Waymouth Street
and that anyone can reach him
9 – 5
Monday – Friday
for a reasonable quote
on an original
commission

Ben Adams is a poet, writer, servo-clerk, research assistant, festival cash wrangler, history and English major. His poetry has appeared in a range of print and online publications, including Australian Love Poems, The Grapple Annual, Red Fez and Tulpa Magazine. Recently, his poem Wet Leaves was included as part of the 2018 Raining Poetry in Adelaide street-art project, while several poems were performed for Quart Short Collective’s Spring Shorts reading night. He also shares poems and photography on Instagram @bts.adams while poems and politics can be found on his Twitter feed @badbadams

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.