The crows which circle lazily above have scared the little birds.
Their panicked outbursts fill the trees. I laugh. I think
Of Russians and the pipsqueaks to the west of them. "Oh, no!
They'll surely set upon us!"  Russians rarely do such things,
And what's the difference if they did? Aren't there already
Occupying troops in nearly all those lands? There are,
But no one seems concerned. In time, I guess, the occupiers
Bend their captives to their will so thoroughly that thoughts
Of independence wholly disappear. An effortless subservience
Evolves to take their place, until the conquered fear they'll
Fall beneath another thumb.