On the 60th Anniversary of the October Revolution 
the comrades met in the room above the chemist’s 
(now Haddows) beside the Railway Tavern.

It was Sunday before noon
John Foster’s coming through — 
fellow-travellers welcome.

The room was bare and wooden, 
posters flaking. We all stood, 
a minute’s silence ticked away, 

a half-raised fist, tables, chairs, 
St David’s church bell tolling 
the Bathgate faithful out to pray. 

No one laughed, no incongruity here, 
twenty-five million war dead, 
Foster said, could not be wished away: 

we had to win the peace by struggle.

Eric Atkinson handed round some greetings
from some friends we’d found
in Nicaragua.

Alistair Findlay is a poet, biographer and poetry editor noted for bringing innovative themes into Scottish writing such as professional football, social work and labour history seen through the lens of working-class socialist literary culture. He has been a speaker for Our Class: Our Culture.