Poetry: Curriculum Vitae

CURRICULUM VITAE

A lot of pain, a lot of light.

Goodbye forever, peaceful night!

But cold. I’m cold. A freezing dawn.

My God, I’m sorry I am born.

My childhood’s over; I’m a man!

I’ve always sneered at Peter Pan.

But life is really hard for men.

I want to be a child again!

Dear God, let others lust for fun:

I’m happy sitting in the sun…

In pain I am, but wouldn’t cry.

But—please!—don’t let me ever die!

Alexander V Demidov

3 December 1988