long winter
of '91
frost-ridden novosibirsk
overnight plane
bread line
from 5 a.m.
in this country it's dark
runway lights wide apart
flickering tv
army base
drowsy wives of tired
lieutenants
captains colonels
their petulant children
chalking on blackboards
front lines
secret signs
the dark recedes
to the defensive positions
far to the east of here -
the war instructor
has correctly identified
the main direction of attack
the bell rings
the doors on all floors
are flung open children
scatter shouting
from where class is over
where there is windy daytime winter
of '91
novosibirsk
a few days
before the war
Translated by Nika Skandiaka
of '91
frost-ridden novosibirsk
overnight plane
bread line
from 5 a.m.
in this country it's dark
runway lights wide apart
flickering tv
army base
drowsy wives of tired
lieutenants
captains colonels
their petulant children
chalking on blackboards
front lines
secret signs
the dark recedes
to the defensive positions
far to the east of here -
the war instructor
has correctly identified
the main direction of attack
the bell rings
the doors on all floors
are flung open children
scatter shouting
from where class is over
where there is windy daytime winter
of '91
novosibirsk
a few days
before the war
Translated by Nika Skandiaka