Published in Overland Issue 240 Spring 2020 · Uncategorized I can't make a living Adam Ford out of watching butterflies drinking turtles’ tears on the internet. My family won’t benefit financially from the quickening pulse and close-held breath that make sunlight slow and smooth on orange wings glowing and flickering around wise and patient reptilian eyes. No skills are gained or improved upon by spending moments so idly. No tangible ROI comes from resisting the urge to reach through the screen and touch the tiny strobing vortex of light and pigment landing a million quick kisses on such a stoic recipient. There is no profit in this, no place for it on any resume, no KSC or KPI addressed. Watching butterflies drinking turtles’ tears on the internet is wholly unsustainable, a complete misappropriation, a truly and gloriously shameless waste of my time. Read the rest of Overland 240 If you enjoyed this piece, buy the issue Or subscribe and receive four brilliant issues for a year Adam Ford Adam Ford is the author of Man Bites Dog, The Third Fruit is a Bird, Not Quite the Man for the Job and Heroes and Civilians. He has written for Australian Author, Desktop, Going Down Swinging and Cordite. He blogs at theotheradamford. More by Adam Ford › 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 7 March 20257 March 2025 · Poetry 3 songs for Charles Darwin John Forbes begins with languor, / the past tense of caress / which, besides flies & heat haze / post stress, / the intense air supplies — no ostrich feather fans / or punkahs needed — just to be at rest. 5 March 20255 March 2025 · Human rights Showing what really matters to us: on Australia’s continuing failure to honour the UN Convention Against Torture Monique Hurley and Andreea Lachsz So why have there been no — or only limited — moves to implement the bare minimum obligations pursuant to the OPCAT? The answer appears to be a lack of political will and a dangerous disregard for the lives of people detained behind bars.
