In my family
people who were eighty-two were very different
from people who were ninety-two
The eighty-two-year-old people grew up
it was 1914
this is what they knew
War World War War
That’s why when they speak to the child
they say
poor little one …
The ninety-two-year-old people remember
it was the year 1905
they went to prison
they went into exile
they said ah soon
When they speak to the grandchild
they say
yes there will be revolution
then there will be revolution then
once more then the earth itself
will turn and turn and cry out oh I
have been made sick
then you my little bud
must flower and save it