1920 Poem by Stefan Splawinski

old empires may have fallen over
war then peace you will not gain
now surrounded by a cossack horde
polish lancers fought on in vain

favourable terms were promised
so their sabres were laid down
the revolutionary court then sat
sentences passed made them frown

red tide between them and warsaw
firing squad at daybreak was near
but a drunken guard saved the day
only vodka overcame the sad fear

then the escape behind the lines
irregular bands in forest hidings
our heroes broke through the front
in spite of further dismal tidings

poland blocked the path to berlin
new world conquest came unstuck
red rosa's spartacist revolution
trotsky's men had run out of luck