I remember life after the war.
   Hiding in the ruins of the bombed buildings.
   The man with no legs pushing his way on a tiny platform.
I remenber playing alone.
I remember playing with other children.
   We did not have any toys.
   We where making our own.
I remember the girl from the third floor.
   She never played with us.
   She was a ballerina.
I remember the stale smell of dark corridors.
I remember the drowned man exhausted from his last fight.
I remember faces that never smiled.
I remember cold waters of Baltic sea.
I remember silent silhouettes along the shoreline.
I remember the forest full of secrets.
I remember an unfinished painting and nobody around.
I remember the music teacher striking my fingers with a pencil.
I remember marching in a column.
I remember laying flowers to the monument of Lenin.
I remember my first glass of wine.
I remember the first girl I loved.
I remember my childhood.

Misha Gordin