Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife…
Title
Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife…
Description
Poet: Smirnovski, S. “The Fighting Pencil” group, 1974
1. There once lived an elderly couple
Who peacefully ate their porridge with milk.
When the husband felt lousy sometimes at home,
Hitting his spouse was his way to relax.
2. With a complaint to the social worker
a poor woman went next day.
To receive the boring answer, "So far, you are O.K.
Did he rob you? Did he kill you? No?
Sorry. Busy. Try next day.”
3. After that he lived with Brandy.
Only Brandy made him violent.
Once he beat her up so badly,
She went straight to the police.
4. And the man in the Department
Simply said, "He'd go to jail,
If there had been witnesses to hear,
Just the way you said you wailed."
5. We've been telling you this story
To ensure men like him
Don't go around unpunished
Just because their actions aren't seen.
1. There once lived an elderly couple
Who peacefully ate their porridge with milk.
When the husband felt lousy sometimes at home,
Hitting his spouse was his way to relax.
2. With a complaint to the social worker
a poor woman went next day.
To receive the boring answer, "So far, you are O.K.
Did he rob you? Did he kill you? No?
Sorry. Busy. Try next day.”
3. After that he lived with Brandy.
Only Brandy made him violent.
Once he beat her up so badly,
She went straight to the police.
4. And the man in the Department
Simply said, "He'd go to jail,
If there had been witnesses to hear,
Just the way you said you wailed."
5. We've been telling you this story
To ensure men like him
Don't go around unpunished
Just because their actions aren't seen.
Creator
Semenov, B.
Date
1974
Source
Rutgers
Relation
Rights
Source:
Holzer, M., Illiash, I., Gabrielian, V., & Kuznestsova, L. (2010). Red Tape from Red Square:Bureaucratic Commentary in Soviet Graphic Satirical Art. Poughkeepsie, NY: NetPublications
Holzer, M., Illiash, I., Gabrielian, V., & Kuznestsova, L. (2010). Red Tape from Red Square:Bureaucratic Commentary in Soviet Graphic Satirical Art. Poughkeepsie, NY: NetPublications
Publisher
Rutgers
Contributor
Rutgers
Format
Medium: Poster
Language
Russian
Type
Artwork
Identifier
Domestic Violence, Abuse, Art, Commentary, Fighting Pencil
Coverage
Russia
Files
Reference
Semenov, B., Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife…, Rutgers, 1974
Cite As
Semenov, B., “Once upon a time there lived an old man and his wife…,” Virtual Museum of Public Service, accessed March 29, 2024, https://vmps.omeka.net/items/show/439.