SERGEI .. .

Remember well full histories
  homeland, where we learned
  and lived as children born
  to cultures sworn both Russian
  as the czar, severe the priests
  incense-driven, strict religion

I learned to play piano for you
  astride the mercy-seat un side-
  saddled like Catherine the great
  ply the wounded soul of a nation
  harmonise musical notation to
  parody character, pain and conflict

Romanticise, canonise our history
  illustrious, full of slavic mystery
  paint pictures in the air with sound
  dark red the colours of the ground
  where bloods and passions mingle
  hearts, hands, severed senses tingle
 
Sergei, come home now darling boy
  where we may plant your embers
  foster life, nurture furrowed seed
  whereby sentience and reason bleed
  shall we ever return to former honour
  expunge the deaths of evolution’s terror

©edenbraytoday27.12.2022

. .. there are good people that live in Russia and outside who lament its sad, moribund, recent history as should we all regret our own nation’s frailties and atrocities however small or large but hope must eventually seek to find a pathway, however painful, to a peaceful restoration, if only for the sake of the children and future generations  .. . I believe Sergei Rachmaninov regretted the political directions his homeland took during his lifetime but never failed to love his country or to support those wounded in defence of his nation who finally did play a major part in deterring the nazi threat .. .