On listening to Shostakovich Symphony No.11 (The Year 1905).
The Winter Palace sleeps in a cold blue dawn of stillness.
Oh that it could sleep forever like this, frozen in time.
Hard is the soil.
Still is the air
Gentle the sky
And when the morning breaks that it should stay undisturbed.
Oh morning do not come and bring your horror.
But morning broke and darkness shone around.
I thought I saw in the crisp blue sky a morning star of light. Is it still there?
Do not wake to that bugle call it calls you to your death
Do not blow that bugle call and bring those men to arms.
Michael Stewart. July 25th, 1983