The Russians went to war
And here I am
Sitting
On a bench in the park
Outside the cafe on a sunny day
And a gentleman
A Russian gentleman has asked
If he can share the table
I see no tanks
I hear no artillery
No planes in the sky
I think it’s safe
So ”Yes Sir you may sit”.

The Russians went to war,
We sit in silence
Watching the children play
Lost in our thoughts
Of what has been
What is yet to be,
And he turns and talks to me
A stranger from another land
Is this good behaviour
When your country has gone to war?
But seeking peace
I’ll enter this detente
Good ambassador that I am.

We shot the breeze,
Please don’t shot me!
I furtively check for snipers,
Odd comments are exchanged
Until we find a kindred thing
And we laugh
In this instance we are one
Touched by the moment
So we share a beer
And the conflict does not exist
We exchange our histories
I realise he feels for me
As I for him

Are the Russians at war?
I wonder
For here we sit in empathy
Drink our drinks
In a most holy communion
While the sun goes down
Then we part
Like old friends,
And I knew
That the Russians had not gone to war
Rather a small number
Of power hungry men
Playing politics.