I was born in Kiev, Ukraine,
I was young and running wild –
“Be a darling,” said the raven,
“Keep my beak inside your heart.”
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine,
Beak in heart and heart in throat,
Acid bubbling in the tear ducts,
Muscle in a Gordian knot.
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine –
Soldiers shivered in the ground
As the god of tits and wine
Put my fire out with his tongue.
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine –
I am friends with rock and rye,
Candle flame and worm and lichen,
And the torture spikes of stars.
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine,
I have seen the mirror crack,
I have seen the flaming sword
Buried in a templar’s back.
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine,
I have knelt for the Red Sun,
Drank the moonlight from the river ,
Stroked a hussar’s shiny gun.
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine,
In its hollow bones are caves,
In the caves the saints are sleeping,
In the saints the wormholes wait.
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine –
Thank you, physics, thank you, fate,
Thank you, lindens, thank you, chestnuts,
Thank you, cemetery gate.
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine –
The fault lines in my face
Cry tears of happiness,
Cry tears of happiness.
With thanks to Solomia and the musicians who play at the Buena Vista Bar in downtown Kiev on Thursdays
Natalia A. 
Beautiful. Sad.
Sent from my iPad
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I would never tell anyone that they’re better than Nas, except when that person is you.
You’re better than Nas, kiddo. I feel as though I fell in love with you all over again just now, if that’s alright for me to say.
Thank you, guys. There’s no way I’m better than Nas. But that is still the greatest compliment of all time. And ILY back, Hank.
Plans to record this?
Yes.
(lol, I just realized that I had meant to shut off comments on this piece before I even published it. Oh well.)
So beautiful
Glad u did not..it’s an exquisite piece and you should hear that from ur followers.
This is sad.
Gorgeous, truly.
Sad – nice one . Thanks for sharing .
May you want to check my blog
http://Www.asilentashout.wordpress.com
You painted a beautiful picture. One not often seen.
Thank you
Blog fantastic
Good luck
………………..
http://www.8ii.in
Wow! Thank you for this poem, and heartfelt best wishes to wonderful Ukraine. This is my favorite painting in the world, and it’s on your blog! I got to stand for an hour in front of the original. Thank you for posting it here.
Yeah, that painting is the best. I’ve also spent a looooot of time in front of it. 😉
Beautiful.
Oh, how wonderful was that! Thank you for sharing it, too.
Every time I reread this, I love it even more.
In saints the wormholes wait –
Spectacular