Post-Soviet Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Post-Soviet

Gala is Russian girl, in mid-age
We had met, we had talked, but this time
Stopped me, stared with hazel eyes
Gathered-Self, complained, almost shout:
“The worst in the whole world; USA.”

After puff, volcano slowed down, looked at me
My action, reaction to the words she had said
She found me neutral to both sides, this and that.

A smile like the wave on the lake, soft, smooth
And sweet, and lovely, long lasting:
“We too have had bad times, and have pains.”

As if a nasty boy throws a large pebble
Splash, died the wave, came bubble of anger:
“They lie much, everywhere, everyone as if rain.”

Since saw me a mountain, turned breeze
“Or they hide parts of fact, the good sides! ”

I became dry land, after draught, in plain
Thirsty to hear much, lies and hides…

“I was child, and a youth, and mature…all of us
Never paid for tickets…was free…transport…
We sat in the train, one city, another, and had fun
Were free like the birds, moved jungles to forests,
We had much…none of them is talked of…
Only of prisons…only of Sakharov and the dead…
They relied on the West…capitalists that said much
…but never were true…see after Gorbachev! ! ! ”

I looked her in the eyes, flames in the dark night.