Ukraine Or Russia Poem by jan hansen

Ukraine or Russia

I was in the Soviet Union once, sailed through the
the Dardanelles into the Black Sea into Ukraine
The center of the town, a pompous avenue void of cars
Loudspeakers played military marches to strengthen the bond between the ruled and the rulers
The older seamen were looking for prostitutes, but there were none, it was a drab place that appeared as if it was grieving
It was a bit hazy, (I was so young,) I think we were at a naval club both men and hefty women who wanted me to sit on their lap, they also gave me white wine, very sweet cakes, and a cigarette with a long paper filter.
The next I knew we were in Island, a wintry chromatically democratic land, where white wine was illegal.