On the Way to Ethiopia

Hugh Oliver is Editor-in-Chief, OISE Press.

In contrast to a lot of modern poetry, Safarik’s verse is readily
accessible: the wording is straightforward and the imagery is drawn from
common experience. Many of his poems read like short stories, broken up
into rhythmical patterns. Despite the title (which is taken from the
last poem in the book), most are about life on either side of the 49th
parallel and most have an urban setting—although much of his imagery
is drawn from nature: “In the midnight garden / Of atrocious wallpaper
/ A solitary light / Gives of the sun.” Safarik has a compassionate,
often humorous, insight into the human condition and a broad vision. I
do not adjudge him to be a great poet, but he has something to say, and
he says it well.