My Siberian Summer Love

For hours flying on arrival across land and sea,
searching for this paper friend waited to see
there the bears and wolves, where are you, twixt curses
don't leave me at the airport standing with butterless bread
late, hadn't told me he'd lost his abode here in Peter's bog

Car broken down again as normal for dear sweet Leonid
no flowers, no welcome, no sweet words, my brother is here
(his brother married man told me he adored me, but not he)
how did you recognise me he barked, how not my sweet
after the numerous pics you have sent to me been here long

insisted we walk the Palace Gardens IMMEDIATELY
the sun shines there even at two a.m. as eyes grow sleepy
but my Kazakhstan love is very strong, not me, eventually
to a bed near the Palace to be woken at the crack of dawn
cock crowing bearing food gifts I didn't need a farm my dear

should I tell the dear man I am only small, make him aware
we 'll sit by the lake sternly he commanded to my stare
This is not early, no one needs to rest, this is Russia's best
His voice boomed across the lake, drinks for my lady
as the rain poured onto the royal swans and golden onions

jerked down the umbrella nearly knocking off our heads
beheaded by the Palace? murmured this is so romantic
blazing June, we must immediately go, count every tree
his grandfather a white general, his family taken to Siberia
doctor and geologist, born in a shack on a lone windy hill

a better heart you could never find but gets little right
plays his accordian with skill, style and panache to dance
made me laugh day and night, english teacher, tourist guide
has lost everything drives taxis now, so to old blighty I returned but only because it's so difficult to get out, and in.