Moscow Photograph circa 1965

CAPTION: Moscow has six and a half million residents, sociable, hardworking, cheerful and hospitable people who induce the capital’s happy rhythm of life. Soviet publication.

 

The smiles were there to be counted

offered up into the camera’s encouraging eye

that caught them crushed together, smiling.

All those shoulders and upturned smiles

stretching back to tiny smiling heads

and then only visored eyes

that smiled, then foreheads

tight with the act of smiling

and hats that might have hid a smile

by the law of averages. God, I

have never seen so many people

smiling,

so many smiling all at one time,

so many sociable, hardworking, cheerful

and hospitable people

inducing the capital’s happy rhythm

of life.

Reviews

[EMF]

I remember Moscow. I remember this. I don't necessarily want to, but this poem makes me. There is nothing oout of place here. Not a word, a comma. It flows perfectly and hits emotional triggers.