TALLINN
The tower steep bears the flag
the flag of this fresh country
beneath an anthem rings
in shrill, yet proud tones
the tower of the parliament
watching over the old town
Tallinn is a strange city:
stumbled on a British pub
Britain is strange and far
away from Estonia
I've been in both
got plastered in both
ended up in post-communist bed
in hotel with view of the tower
all hell broke loose next morning
woken up by shrill, yet proud tones.
© Bart FM Droog, 1996
from Randweg, Rottend Staal, Groningen, 1996
© translation
Willem Groenewegen, 1997/2001