I was lost in Russia for a while you know

I said as I walked across the flat chalk fields near the Kingsdown cliffs

My sisters Una and Muriel were with me

I had not seen either of them for twenty-five years

Prior to my release

The huge white cliffs had not aged

But we were all much older and very tired

Life had taken its toll on each of us

Young people climbed on the remains of this once secret military establishment without a care in their world

A girl looked at my gaunt features and closely shaven head and ran away

I think my appearance had alarmed her

But once this was my playground

Where I had played with my sisters and our friends

But this was before I made the biggest mistake of my foolish life

Do you think you have returned a wiser man?

Perhaps

You should have never left our village

I know

It is and always has been the centre of our universe Alfred

I realised that as soon as they locked me away

But by then it was too late for me to change things

 

 

From Lost in Russia by Alfred Jenkins (1975)