Through widespread Russian countryside, green after summer rain;
This journey of a lifetime on the Trans-Siberian train.

  We rattled over rivers wide, through taiga forests dense,
Past villages which bore the seal of communist offence.

At night the gentle swaying and the tuneful click-click-clack
Induced a pleasant slumber over thousand miles of track.

One night I woke to Nature's call – and such must be obeyed;
I slithered from my bunk and down the corridor I swayed.

All shutters had been closed, the corridor was black as jet;
I felt my way along the walls till destination met. 

My "penny spent", I then returned in manner as before;
And opened what I thought to be my own compartment door.

But when I flopped down on the bunk I found to my dismay
Between me and the coverings another body lay!

"Oh, shit!" I cried and rushed the door, retreating from this plight,
Before the one on whom I'd lain should thwart my frantic flight.

Too late!  He grabbed me by the arm as foreign words he yelled
Which, though I did not comprehend, his tone I well beheld.

The only Russian I could speak was "thank you" and "how much";
But neither phrase could fix this mess or add a calming touch.

His shouts brought forth conductors, fellow travellers en masse,
Of whom most looked bemused to see this silly Aussie lass.

By now in state of crisis, I attempted to explain
What caused me to be in the wrong compartment of the train.

At last a man bi-lingual elbowed through the crowd and told
My story to these people, most of whom still eyed me cold.

When finally the crowd dispersed they ushered me away
To four doors down the corridor where my compartment lay.

No doubt you wonder now this abject story you have learned
Where was my soul mate at this time, and was he not concerned?

Why, he was snoring in his bunk, detached from this parade -
Quite pleased of such when told next morn of his wife's escapade.

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Find it here!