Anatoly

ANTHEM


REPORTER #1
Excuse me, Mr. Sergievsky. Why are you leaving Russia?

(Anatoly tries to brush him off)
What about your wife and family?

REPORTERS
How long was this planned?
What made you defect?
Did anyone help you?
And do you expect
To be joined in your exile
By loved ones e.g. your wife?
Or are you starting again
In all aspects of life?

REPORTER #2
Why did you leave Russia?

ANATOLY
I don't leave anything!

No man, no madness
Though their sad power may prevail
Can possess, conquer, my country's heart
They rise to fail
She is eternal
Long before nations lines were drawn
When no flags flew, when no armies stood
My land was born

And you ask me why I love her
Through wars, death and despair
She is the constant, we who don't care
And you wonder will I leave her - but how?
I cross over borders but I'm still there now

How can I leave her?
Where would I start?
Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart
My land's only borders lie around my heart

END OF ACT ONE


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