Inside black,thick shrouds
Struggled the agonizing stars
And the shy, faint moon
Peeped through misty
frozen skies.

Vivaldi tunes played
In cosy saloons.
And champagne flutes clink
Obscene melodies,
For slim blonde ladies
And single tsars.

Not too far
Just on the other bank.

A cold windowless room,
For eight kids,
Their widow mother and I.