Vladimir The Indestructible

At 76
He sleeps
With a
Picture
Of Lenin
Placed
At an
End table
Next to
His bed

Soviet officer
His spirit
Is indestructible

Stronger than
Men
Half his age

Born
Captive
His soul
Is free
As  America
A place
He has grown
To
Love

Every morning
He awakes
Before
Dawn
Attending
A garden
Though
He
Does not
Need to
He refuses
To leave
A
Day
Without
A
Hard days
Work

Disciplined
By
Nature
He is admired
By all
Who
Knows
Him

And though
I don't
Understand
A
Damn
Word
He says
He is By
Far
The hardest
Worker
I
Ever
Known