THE RUSSIAN

           First of all, you wouldn’t want to play

           Nuclear weapons with this fucker.

           Does he look as tough and cold

           As you’ve ever seen?

           This is not like your average real-estate guy

           Who’s rough and mean.

           This guy’s beyond that.

           You see it in the eyes.

           This guy is a killer.

           How about when I asked,

           Were you a boxer? Whoa!

           That nose is a piece of rubber!

           But me, he liked.

           When we went out to the elevator,

           He was grabbing me,

           Holding me,

           He felt very good.

           And he liked what I do.

                         May 19, 1997

                         THE NEW YORKER