War of the Beasts and the Animals

begins two minutes history

vixens bark at the crimson shields

mosquitoes’ drone

drowns out the pealing of bells

russian hares

in all the polling stations

the country has spoken

and then the midges

tearing themselves from flesh

rotate tactically overhead

who wouldn’t want to be drinking the quiet don from grandfather’s

wooden cup, going back in time, rub your eyes

put kebabs on the fire

reclaim those words       sprinkle them on

soup

sprinkle earth

*

Vlas the volunteer, a fortnight dead

forgot the ruble rate, and what the sparrows said

and where he was from.

A current of explosive air

held his bones in embrace. As he flew

the years passed from him, chubby-cheeked

babbling.

Russky or Ukrainian,

o you, whoever you are, in this neglected crossing place,

consider Vlas. Vlas was nicer than you.

*