Poem of the week: The Sparrows of Butyrka by Irina Ratushinskaya

The Soviet-era dissident writer’s defiant prison lyric has lost none of its immediacy The Sparrows of ButyrkaNow even the snow has grown sad –Let overwhelmed reason go,And let’s smoke our cigarettes through the air-vent,Let’s at least set the smoke free.A sparrow flies up –And looks at us with a searching eye:‘Share your crust with me!’And in honourable fashion you share it with him.The sparrows – they knowWho to ask for bread.Even though there’s a double grille on the windows –And only a crumb can get through.What do they careWhether you were on trial or not?If you’ve fed them, you’re OK.The real trial lies ahead.You can’t entice a sparrow –Kindness and talents are no use.He won’t knockAt the urban double-glazing.To understand birdsYou have to be a convict.And if you share your bread,It means your time is done. Continue reading... https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jul/13/poem-of-the-week-the-sparrows-of-butyrka-by-irina-ratushinskaya #poetry #books #culture #censorship #russia