Arkhangelsk~Архангельск

On September 4, 1918, United States troops land at Archangel, in northern Russia. The landing was part of an Allied intervention in the civil war raging in that country after revolution in 1917

Can you still hear the footsteps
drowning out the shouts of the fallen?
Stay close MIlaya moyA,
we are expected at home.

Vanya, I have lost sight of
the colorful scarf flagged
around the threadbare grey
of your coat.

Calling your name,
no one acknowledges
the plaintive stretch
of each letter. I am a
screeching ghost in the
wind.

Finally in an alley finding
you still on cobblestones
with your scarf covering your
beautiful face.

Kneeling beside you watching
your life run in rivulets back
into an ungrateful motherland

I know-

Our archangel has forsaken us.
Torn between grief and anger
I cannot bear to look at you.

You promised me, you promised
mama, you would always stay
here, in hell, with me.

Reviews

[Pryde Foltz]

Our archangel has forsaken us.
Torn between grief and anger
I cannot bear to look at you.

You promised me, you promised
mama, you would always stay
here, in hell, with me.

War makes so many victims, robs the world of so much love. Very effected by this write, IcyBlue.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Pryde this was during my "Russian" period. I appreciate you finding this one and commenting on it.

[s y e]

This is such a sad story Anne, you've written it superbly though. All the emotions are spot on. You got me on the title though, thank the heavens for Google, huh?

You, Frieda and Pryde all like your big words. Lol.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks sweetie. You know in the summertime for years I had to learn a new word every single day before I went out to play. The book was called word wealth junior and I never minded doing it a bit. I like to write historical pieces now and again. I am sure many people don't know that after the Russian Revolution the Americans landed in Archangel to help the resistence...what were we thinking!!??

[s y e]

Really? That explains how you are so, so smart!

[TL Boehm]

OH MY GOD. This just tore into my chest and locked teeth around my poor heart. How can I even say great poem - when I am so stunned? Great is a hollow word in comparison to this. This should be published.

[icelandicblue]

I thank you very much. I am partial to this one myself. ; )

[Lydia Shutter]

Oh, what an emotive story this one tells, Blue. So sad....and so powerful! Lydi**

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much for reading and commenting on this one Lydi.

[Rita L. Sev]

What a sad but all too true tale you have given us, Blue. This is beautifully written, and a part of the story history books fail to tell...

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much for your kind comment Rita.

[Kristina Moulaison]

This is really stunning! Well done!

[icelandicblue]

Hi Misty,

Nice to meet you! Thanks!!

[Creepy Swine Guy]

WOW! Just ... WOW. This is, in my opinion, your best work. I cannot tell you how shaken it left me. Spectacular.

[icelandicblue]

You humble me beyond words CSG. Thank you so much, it means a lot to me.

[Frieda P]

Okay Anne, you stumped me here, had to google, had no idea what the title meant, it was intense even before I realized what it was about....last stanza is killer good!

[icelandicblue]

Even when I'm not trying I'm pretty intense eh. Russian history is a hobby of mine. Thanks for reading, I'm not writing much so I thought I'd send out an older poem. ; )

[icelandicblue]

I'm referring to the Russian Revolution where foreign troops landed in Archangel to fight the Bolsheviks those natives fighting from Archangels were referred to as white Russians vs. red Russians.

[Frieda P]

I don't know much about Russian history but I love learning something new whilst I'm reading poetry so thanks, and yes, you are intense my friend. :-)

[icelandicblue]

Ha- I added a bit of information to the top to help other readers. Thanks Frieda.

[Brian Park]

I particularly enjoyed the line "watching your life run in rivulets back....." life running back into the ground resonated with me, I think the specific cadence (seems broken, fractured) adds to the overall effect, more dreamlike, more on the fringe of conscious, good work

[icelandicblue]

I don't know how I missed your lovely review- thank you.