These were not common, these camp followers
\nthese devoted few women of those sparse survivors
\nsanctioned so to live or so as cold Sibir awaited
\nthem and theirs to harshest toil and
\nthey themselves impoverished aristocracy<\/p>\n
among them none of those five hung – and three hanged twice –
\nfor wanting just to see the end of serfdom\u2019s slavery
\nmade for them the hope of somehow being
\nin the farthest east Yakutsk or yet perhaps Nerchinsk<\/p>\n
the rough and crude, abusive solitude
\nthis callous rule, this cruel administration,
\nruthless, tsarist exile could not cause to waver
\nyea, could not unhinge their fealty<\/p>\n
these dedicated brides of brave but doomed men
\ntho\u2019 sickness and starvation caused to perish those
\nwho could not make it through the bitter winters
\nthese were women of steadfastness, loyalty and ardor<\/p>\n
local folk, admirers of the ones who would not swear,
\nassisted as these women swept their mud floor huts and wept
\ntheir husbands hushed and placed in chains in mines
\nthe utter desolation kept at bay by dint of love\u2019s hard labor<\/p>\n
no, these were not common, these camp followers
\nthese devoted few women of those sparse survivors
\nsanctioned so to live or so as cold Sibir awaited<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
These were not common, these camp followers these devoted few women of those sparse survivors sanctioned so to live or so as cold Sibir awaited them and theirs to harshest toil and they themselves impoverished aristocracy among them none of … Continue reading