Published in Overland Issue 256 Spring 2024 · Poetry Exchanges Alex Sutcliffe ✈Because Potatohead is free entry5 Eyes supported Suharto.No gap years in a five-year planso plan a study tour.They are planning theirs at the university or aged-care home where I workhaving thoughts on Adorno and O’Hara: the Chicago School.I let myself in when the guards are on smoko— all power to the union.I don’t clean the microwave.No one notices because the rank and file’re already in Bali or always on smoko.That’s what it’s all for:THE EMERGENCY SITUATION IS THE NORMAND ALL CULTURE IS BARBARISM.You can’t write poetry after the Holocaustso write an itinerary.O’Hara went on exchange in Fire Island, Benjamin in Catalonia.Adorno never went on exchange.I go to workwhen the fire alarm sounds.✈ ✈Because the rank and file’re freesupport 5 Eyed potato plan No gap in a five-year study tourThey are planning the university or aged-care homeThey are where I work I,Adorno, having thoughts on THE BARBARISM EMERGENCYare the guards on smoko on smoko?I let myself power the microwavedon’t clean the union they’re always-alreadyin Bali no one noticesI am on smoko because on smokothe Chicago School’s poetryso go to Catalonia go to Fire Island That’s what exchange’s forTHE NORMANDfree-entrywhen the fire alarm sounds Alex Sutcliffe Alex Sutcliffe recently academically qualified for an MPhil in Creative Writing at the University of Adelaide. Alex, like all Adelaideans, lives in Melbourne's inner north. More by Alex Sutcliffe › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 5 November 2025 · Poetry Force posture agreement Miroslav Sandev The men of Darwin have all taken their rottweilers / out for a walk at the same time. / For our protection. Like Pine Gap: / all those big white eyes that scan / the darkening horizon. / The eyes stay woke, so that we may sleep. / Or so they say. 1 22 August 202522 August 2025 · Poetry starmight K.A Ren Wyld Ending genocide and apartheid is the story. Palestinian liberation is the story. / Aboriginal rights is the story. Truth, justice, treaties and land back is the story. / Global Indigenous peoples’ solidarity and joy is the story. Kinship is the story.
