In Memoriam of Boris Mikhailovich Gunko

   On May, 4, after an athletic training, our comrade Boris Mikhailovich Gunko died suddenly.

   All these years of “reforms” and “democracy” Boris Mikhailovich Gunko – a poet, a communist, a fire-eater and a fighter – was at the front line of the struggle. He was one of the founders of the Russian Communist Workers’ Party (RWCP), the editor of the newspapers “Dubinushka” [“Cudgel”] and “Trudovaya Rossia” [“Labour Russia”]. For many years Boris Mikhailovich Gunko had been organizing meetings and pickets in defense of the Lenin Museum and the Lenin Mausoleum – near the building of the Lenin Museum, near K.Marx monument at Teatralnaya square, etc.

   Not a large demonstration went without Boris Mikhailovich. He was an active participant of violent events of Autumn 1993 near the Soviet House in Moscow. Comrade Gunko repeatedly had to take part in fights against bourgeois Yeltsin’s police – in 1992 and during the Bloody May Day of 1993.

   One could consistently meet Boris Mikhailovich at meetings, demonstrations where he was reading flammeous poems. B.M.Gunko issued three poetic digests: “Selected poems” (a digest of three parts: “Russia is waiting”, “Demo-thieves” and “Ours”), “Wicked poems”, “Revolution and love”. His poems were consistently published in communist press – in the newspapers “Trudovaya Rossia”, “Molnia” [“Lightning”], “Mysl” [“Thought”] and many, many others. Besides, his poetic word inspired many composers to create fierce songs of Resistance.

   Besides, Boris Mikhailovich was leading the art studio “Soyuz” [“Union”] famous with its concerts at Kharitonyevskiy passage. Not only poems and songs of Resistance but also classic that he loved tremulously were sounding there. Here is one poem by the great poet-fighter.

   Communists, save the people!

   You who are crucified now,

   You who are thrown into prison,

   I conjure with all that is dear and saint in your life –

   Save the country!

   As in 1917, as in 1941,

   In spite of death, infamy and lie,

   Become a great example again,

   Legendary Bolsheviks!

   You who have raised our power

   From a plow to sky height,

   You who were conscience and glory –

   Communists, save the country!

   Only you are able to do it,

   Either you – or a way to nowhere,

   Either Russia will jump up with you,

   Or will go to slavery forever.

   So, raise up your banners,

   The battle is not over, not a step backward!

   Charred and bloodstained Stalingrad

   Is calling upon you to a deed again!

   Bombs are falling with ping again,

   Groan is floating over the land again.

   This groan sounds: “Communists!

   Communists! Save the people!”

   The heart of the poet-communist stopped beating. His passionate, fighting, courageous poems – the poetry of unbroken spirit and struggle – will remain with us.

   Elena Gromova