Thank you, Stalin. Thank you because I am joyful. Thank you because
I am well. No matter how old I become, I shall never forget how
we received Stalin two days ago. Centuries will pass, and the
generations still to come will regard us as the happiest of mortals,
as the most fortunate of men, because we lived in the century
of centuries, because we were privileged to see Stalin, our inspired
leader. Yes, and we regard ourselves as the happiest of mortals
because we are the contemporaries of a man who never had an equal
in world history.
The men of all ages will call on thy name, which is strong, beautiful,
wise and marvelous. Thy name is engraven on every factory, every
machine, every place on the earth, and in the hearts of all men.
Every time I have found myself in his presence I have been subjugated
by his strength, his charm, his grandeur. I have experienced a
great desire to sing, to cry out, to shout with joy and happiness.
And now see me--me!--on the same platform where the Great Stalin
stood a year ago. In what country, in what part of the world could
such a thing happen.
I write books. I am an author. All thanks to thee, O great educator,
Stalin. I love a young woman with a renewed love and shall perpetuate
myself in my children--all thanks to thee, great educator, Stalin.
I shall be eternally happy and joyous, all thanks to thee, great
educator, Stalin. Everything belongs to thee, chief of our great
country. And when the woman I love presents me with a child the
first word it shall utter will be : Stalin.
O great Stalin, O leader of the peoples,
Thou who broughtest man to birth.
Thou who fructifies the earth,
Thou who restorest to centuries,
Thou who makest bloom the spring,
Thou who makest vibrate the musical chords...
Thou, splendour of my spring, O thou,
Sun reflected by millions of hearts.
---A. O.Avidenko
This text is part of the Internet Modern History Sourcebook.
The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and copy-permitted
texts for introductory level classes in modern European and World
history.
Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the
document is copyright. Permission is granted for electronic copying,
distribution in print form for educational purposes and personal
use. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the source.
No permission is granted for commercial use of the Sourcebook.
(c)Paul Halsall Aug 1997
