THE ODESSA STEPS


The Czar’s soldiers surge
Their rifles suspending

        The soldiers descend
        Townsfolk flee screaming

                  The soldiers take aim
                  Bodies fall bleeding

                           The soldiers descend
                           Odessa steps reddening

                                    The soldiers reload
                                    Stragglers down bending

                                               The soldiers descend
                                                Shawled woman ascending

                                                          The soldiers reload
                                                           Rifle shadows a-palling

                                                                   Cossack swords rend
                                                                   Crone’s blood blinding

                                                                              The soldiers descend
                                                                              Baby’s pram upending

                                                                                        The Czar’soldier shalt
                                                                                         Potemkin’s guns pounding


Michael Small
            April 29, 1994

            pub. Red Lamp, December, 1998, Queensland, Australia

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