Life, 1922-08-31 · page 3 of 36
Life — August 31, 1922 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This poem by W.D. satirizes Soviet Russia through dark humor about death and deprivation. The verses reference a "Soviet garden" where graves lie and people have died (Yvonne, Heletski, Mascha, Olga mentioned by name). The speaker ate caviar while "counting eggs in idle joy"—suggesting Soviet wealth disparity or propaganda about abundance. The poem threatens "Evavitch" with murder ("I think I'd better kill you, Pet!"), likely satirizing Soviet violence and political purges. The illustration shows a gathering in what appears to be a Russian setting, consistent with the grim subject matter. The caption's dialogue about "frightful conditions" and caviar outlook reinforces the cartoon's critique: Soviet Russia presents itself as prosperous while actually characterized by fear, death, and hardship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Lines in a Soviet Garden UN on the land, where perfumes call; Shadows along my garden lie; The graves are green by the old stone wa! Ah, what a gorgeous day to die! * ok * I ate my caviar to-day, Counting the eggs in idle joy, Dreaming the purple light away, Golden my thoughts, without alloy. Yvonne is there beneath the sod, Olga, Heiens! Olga’s mound is a trifle odd, It throws the whole row out of line. You are so sweet, dear Evavitch, So fair! So young! And so were these. /, £» 46 , The Traveler: Yes, I spent a year in Russia. You have no idea how frightful conditions are. The Listener: Isn’t it dreadful? And what is the outlook in regard to caviar? But most of them were much too rich; And then, besides, I wanted ease Dear Evavitch, your lilting name, Your sad, sad eyes, with diamonds wet; The sun slants through your hair like flame: I think I'd better kill you, Pet! * * * Sun on the land, where perfumes call; Here in the garden we were wed in, The graves are green by the old stone wall: God, what a day to be quite dead in! comicbooks.com