ON THE S.S. PUSHKIN
Lost with a jazz violin
on the ship Pushkin
in a navy cap
from the Aegean
with a kid glove,
in a blue blouse
drinking tea
in a glass of kvass
until I found vodka
along the sailor’s deck
met a guy
whose grandfather
remembered Lenin
and fought at Kronstadt
Ivan was a cool cat
who jammed with me
all night
until Uncle Alfred
became overwrought
and frightened
and thought I was lost
or double crossed
my ticket
for someone else
until the captain told him
and was enlightened.