Bitter Cold

                              1978

Oh Russia

      Russia of frozen snow

                 of frozen people

                     living day to day

                     warmed only by your vodka

       Russia of machine like loyalty

                  of one party lines

                      where only banished poets

                      speak in truths

      Russia of Kremlin like buildings

                 of Red Squares

                          where hard working comrades cheer

                          military weapons

      Russia of Lenin was bad

                      Stalin was bad

                      Krucheiv was bad

                      cowardice denunciations

      Russia of Hitler hatred

                    How can you curse the Jews

                     Have you learned nothing

                     from icy fingered invaders

                     knocking at your door

                     cold December mornings

                     rifles in their hands?