Sir, it is true, as you have written
the natives are idolators, eat meat
and live by peaceful trade and
industry, where my trekking guide sings
Mongol horseman's rock 'n roll
and poppies bloom the member's section
filled with a magical substance
killing pain like cream
made in Germany painted
on a beat up smuggler's face.
High-school chemisty
and mountain air produces
an incurable habit
for Californians & pioneering
Viennese bankers getting dirty
marching into their holiday
humming Vienr Blut to the buffalo
which rhymes with snow.
And lollies, the lollies kept coming
with trinkets, pills and foil
for the boss of the tribe: so many
foreign coins sewn into her clothes.
And my friend Velasquez, the Peruvian
looks me in the eye
"I love ruins..."
credits
from Doing Well, I Hope,
released May 13, 2019
Lyrics by Adam Aitken, from his Poem "Letter to Marco Polo"
Used with permission
Accordion, Reading - Sam Inman
Piano, Backup Vocals, Mixing & Recording - Jon Driver
Rain Stick - Felicia Driver
Spooky String - Jon Silpayamanat