O

n the back of the truck 

no one can get me down.

I'm coming for the loaded 

pockets of the town.

Should one of them burst 

I see a life a body replete 

in shards and peelings 

spilling out on the street.

Anyone got a problem 

if I drive the garbage truck 

to the fruit machines 

just to try my luck.

Bunches in a row 

and luring lemons roll

as they pass by in pairs. 

Coins jingle jingle

less when I have to go

home with empty pockets 

till the next truck full 

of chances waits.

On the back of the truck 

no one can get me down.

I'm coming for the loaded 

pockets of the town.

Song of the garbage man was written for the Lonely funeral project in Amsterdam, 2021

http://www.eenzameuitvaart.nl/eenzame-uitvaart-258-gedicht/

Translation from Dutch by Donald Gardner