Poetry: Good News for the Women of the USSR

Good News for the Women of the USSR

(Possibly to be included verbatim in the official address by the General Secretary [of the Communist Party of the USSR] on International Women’s Day, 8 March)

Why, in spite of our wishing them all the best,

Aren’t Soviet women with happiness blessed?

Why, by society oppressed,

Aren’t, say, American women ever depressed?

No sooner involved, than the problem I solved:

American women—every one—

Have their happiness wished in another tongue!

Soviet women! You may rest assured:

From now on, your happiness shall be ensured

Because now in English we say:

Many happy returns of This Day!

On behalf of mankind

Alexander V Demidov

5 March 1988