They rise above us, the ex-ministers,
in private jets, left wing, right wing, drop low
to Beijing, Kuwait, the Congo, Kazakhstan;
their deals and contracts in the old red boxes,
for sentimental reasons.

                                      Beyond our shores,
they float on superyachts, Nostrovia!,
guests of the mortal gods; the vague moon a bitcoin.
We are nothing to them now; lemmings
going over the white cliffs of Dover.

And when they are here,
they are unseen;
chauffeured in blacked-out cars to the bars
in the heavens — far, glittering shards —
to look down
                      on our lucrative democracy.

Though they have bought the same face,
so they will know each other.




Nostrovia” is the English mispronunciation of the Russian word, "Na Zdorovie", 
meaning "cheers". Nostrovia is now used as English slang for “let's get drunk” 
and as a common drinking toast.