LENIN'S TOMB
R. Hu
Preface
This story is completely fiction, but it takes place during dynamic changes in history. Remember the Cold War? It officially ended in 1991. This poem takes place two years prior. Six men are on a train headed for Moscow. Although each man has their own reason, all have decided to pay their respects to Lenin’s Tomb in the Red Square. In order to kill time during the long trip by train, the six men decide to tell stories along the way. And thus our story begins.
Prologue
Over seven decades it has been
Since the revolution of VI Lenin
Six men all different, split by a fine line
It was the year nineteen hundred, and eighty nine
Six men on a train, in the same room
On their way, to Lenin’s Tomb
It truly was a cold day, indeed
Reach Moscow fast, Godspeed!
Six men, ready to pay their respects
Had no worries, no regrets!
Ah, Russia! Such a Red Scare
Such a situation is indeed rare!
The men, they were not blind
All had Lenin, in their mind!
With that, we take you to the foreground
With the Soviet anthem playing in the background
A Soviet soldier, I must infer
An ex-private, if you prefer!
A strong man, but rather old
He was active during the war that was cold!
Very traditional he was, for
He didn’t understand the concept of nuclear war!
He wore a cap, which had a star
He was loyal only, to the U.S.S.R.!
Truly stoic, and truly brave
Interested only, in Lenin’s grave!
Beside the soldier, sitting there silent
Was a marketer, who spoke with an accent!
Sat there, with a hunch in his back
He was involved, in a market black!
The marketer, mysterious was he
For he sold weapons, you see!
Sold them at a price, often not right
Sold them too high, or too light!
So secret, was this scam
Too often, his guns would jam!
So quick was this man’s tongue
He was very clever, but very young!
He believed much so, in capitalism
His market was illegal, under communism!
What he thinks of Lenin, is a mess
In reality, this man could care less!
If you think the marketer, is not very funny
Ponder this: he loved his money!
And from the rural fields of Russia
Comes a peasant, with origins in Prussia!
A poor man he was, he had a lovely wife
He thought communism would save his life!
All day long he works, just to make a nickel
He often looks up, at the Hammer and Sickle!
But all year long he works, breaking his back
To grow crops, not enough for a snack!
This dirty old man, with mud on his face
Thinks Lenin is someone, he can’t embrace!
The peasant had a long beard that comes with age
He was truly wise, truly a sage!
Next to the peasant, a man of fact
A communist, to be exact!
A member of the party, was he
Regarded Lenin as a, revolutionary!
A wealthy, well educated man
Wore a suit and tie, that’s how he began!
He was a strict socialist, his only flaw
Red was the only color that he saw!
He was intelligent; he was a reader
He believed Lenin was a truly great leader!
He practiced Marxism, but to no avail
He did not want, communism to fail!
Please, do not consider this odd
This man believed Lenin was God!
The teachings of Lenin, he thrives upon
“May the revolutionary cause, live forever and on!!”
But across from him, a Nazi, it would suffice,
A Neo-Fascist, to be precise!
Everything about this man, can be wrong
He and the communist did not get along!
This man doesn’t belong in this place!
He had many wrinkles on his face,
He let fascism get to his head
“Hail Hitler!” was all he said!
This is a man, that’s hard to like
He wanted to rebuild, the Third Reich!
Why then, would he visit Lenin’s Tomb?
After all, it was Lenin whom
Started, this oppressive autocrat
“He’s my idol, got a problem with that?”
Being German, made him proud
He didn’t say much, but he said it loud.
Does he worship Lenin? We’ll never know!
His love for his country continues to grow.
Finally we have the poorest of the poor
A beggar if you may, for
He has no work, or specific job
He was formerly, a member of the mob!
His clothes were ragged, and they were bleak
Could become a millionaire, by begging for a week!
“Why? Why am I poor?” he would ask
“Isn’t communism supposed to eliminate this task?”
Trickery was his game, and might I add
He opposed the regime, right Comrade?
“What is this, utopian concept?
I’d agree with you now, except,
It’s impossible! I make my remarks
Haven’t you read the works of Karl Marx?”
“This country, is not doing well,
It’s going to fall soon, I can tell!”
Well the beggar was right, that’s a start
He may be poor, but he was smart!
The beggar wasn’t bad, that’s nice
People would give him change, just for his advice!
Why was he visiting Lenin, what’s the link?
“Well Comrade, what do you think?!”
And thus that was them all; made every mark
And off on the journey, these men embark
Off in the distance, their target looms
Six men, all of them whom
Are sitting on a train, in the same room
On their way… to Lenin’s Tomb!
The Peasant’s Tale
Preface
The Peasant tells the first story. He tells a fable, that teaches the very fundamental moral of point of view. The story is about a wise man that comes up with a challenge: Whoever can find a counterfeit coin among eight coins using a scale as few times as possible shall be given the eight coins. Several men try to figure out the problem, but only a boy is able to solve it!
The Peasant’s Tale
In a small village, with a hundred or so men
There appeared a stranger, suddenly then!
At first the villagers were baffled, but then they knew
This old sage was one of a few!
He wondered to the center, and set up a mat
He took off his cloak, and took off his hat.
What shocked them most, was his enormous size
They could tell, this man was very wise.
Took eight gold coins out of his coat, per say
One gold coin was a lot these days!
Nothing could prepare them for this sight, oh well
The sage was very rich; they could tell.
And then in a second, in a sudden split:
“Who here has brains, who here has wit?”
Shouted the sage in a booming voice
He got the town’s attention, a very good choice!
“I have here eight coins and a scale,
Who shall win and who shall fail?
Which coin of mine shall you take?
For one of my coins is a fake!
You think this is a simple task, yes?
One of the coins weighs slightly less!
Use the scale as few times as you can,
It’s not that easy, you need a plan!
Come one, come all, who is bold?
For whoever wins shall take my gold!”
Such a prize is to be sought for
Many of the people here were very poor.
A first man stepped out, and gave his thought
His idea was awful, and so he ought
To be silent, but instead he spoke,
His plan was not the best, and so he broke!
“Weigh each coin individually!”, he said
And all of a sudden his face turned red,
For there was an outpour of laughter, from the crowd
Never again will he speak aloud!
Then a boy stepped in, and begun the revolution
“I know the answer, I know the solution!”
“Quiet boy!” said the baker, “You shall have no say!”
“Go play somewhere else, go away!”
A second man stepped forth, and gave his word
His idea, was not as absurd!
“Listen carefully, my idea is the best!
I will win the prize, of our very guest!
Simply compare the coins’ weight, four by four
As you can see, we used the scale once, but furthermore,
Fetch the lightest stack, and divide it in two,
Weigh each pile; the scale used twice now, true?
Find the lighter pile and divide that, one on one,
Weigh the last two coins, and now you’re done!
And thus you used the scale thrice
And that should be enough to suffice!
This is the only way that I can devise
Now Sage! Hand over your prize!”
“Wait!” said the boy, “Let me try!”
“I will find a way that will surly defy!”
“Silence!” said the baker, “It’s been solved already, you fool!
If you go now, you’ll face a life of ridicule!
Give up now, you have no chance!
This problem can have no, advance!”
“Listen!” said the boy, “I can solve it with ease,
All of you are wrong, now if you please!
Your solution has a flaw, that you must fix,
Split the stack of eight, into two and six,
Divide the stack of six, into three and three,
Weigh each pile, and then you will see,
One is lighter, or maybe not
It’s all based on a random lot!
Suppose one pile of three is lighter, take that pile
Remove two coins, and put one in exile!
Compare the weights of two coins, and
If they are the same, the fake one is in your hand!
And so as you can see, we used the scale only twice,
This method is simple, more concise!
And with that, I have proved a myth
You were all fools, to begin with!
You should have looked at all points of view,
Not just those, of a chosen few!
And so as you can see, you fall and I rise
You have caused your own demise!
Oh great sage, strong and wise,
I believe you owe me, a golden prize!”