THE ODESSA STEPS, Suddenly
The Czar’s soldiers surge Their rifles are pending The soldiers descend Townsfolk flee screaming The soldiers take aim Bodies fall fending The soldiers descend Odessa Steps bleeding The soldiers reload Stragglers hide bending The soldiers descend Shawled woman ascending The soldiers reload Rifle shadows falling The soldiers take aim Young mother falls dying The soldiers reload Baby’s pram descending Cossack swords rend Old woman’s face bleeding The soldiers descend Baby’s pram upending The Czar’s soldiers halt Potemkin’s guns pounding
Michael Small published Red Lamp, December, 1998, Queensland/UK