Happy New Year, Europe! Asleep on a bull's back,

You race ahead, like Titanic to an ice pack.

Look back around! Just see — here's my hand,

It holds a shard from a Polish mine in the sand.

And let you dream of Louvre and Notre Dame,

With loving gaze, so tender and so tame...

But you'll awake at night to ocean's roar,

And you'll be all alone; no Zeus is at your door.

And you'll sail West, but, God knows why,

No Yankee in a cowboy hat awaits you nigh.

You'll tire of swimming, turn your eyes to East,

And there are savages, and fir trees, at the least.

And you'll be angry, throw reproach in my face,

"I don't need that Russian guy to share my space!"

Yes, Copernicus knew all about the cosmic view,

But Gagarin was the first one flying true!