Żurawiejka was a short, two-line facetious couplet, written specifically for cavalry regiments of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It humorously and ironically presented history of a given regiment, as well as its contemporary fate. Żurawiejkas were also used in cavalry regiments of the Imperial Russian Army, as the tradition of writing them, as well as the very name of the couplet, comes from Russian cavalry, and was taken over by the Poles in the interbellum period. Famous Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov is considered the father of żurawiejka, as he wrote first couplets while serving as a junker in the Russian Army. Żurawiejkas were sung by Polish cavalrymen at several occasions, mostly during different parties, and were usually associated with dancing. Common topics in most of them are the Polish–Soviet War, drinking, looting, and women. They described a military unit in black humor, using derogatory terms and swear words. Żurawiejka in the Polish Army Following the Polish–Soviet War, the couplets quickly gained popularity among cavalry regiments of the Polish Army. Some historians trace back Polish żurawiejkas to the "Uhlan March", written in 1863, during the January Uprising. Furthermore, during World War I, soldiers of the Polish Legions sang the "Song of Wasowicz's Squadron", which described a cavalry charge during the Charge of Rokitna (13 June 1915), led by rotmistrz Zbigniew Dunin-Wasowicz. "Nasz Wąsowicz, chłop morowy, Zbił Moskali w Cucyłowej. Odznaczył się szwadron drugi, Wrażej krwi on przelał strugi." English translation: "Our Wąsowicz, a great guy, Beat up the Moskals in Cucylowa. Second squadron distinguished itself, By shedding streams of enemy blood" Originally, every uhlan regiment of the Polish Army had its żurawiejka. Later on, the tradition was adopted by regiments of mounted rifles - even though, as one couplet said: "To tell the truth among ourselves - riflemen are not uhlans" ("Prawdę mówiąc między nami – strzelcy nie są ułanami"). Furthermore, there were żurawiejkas of units of infantry, artillery, armored troops, navy and airforce. Examples of żurawiejkas of the interbellum Polish Army 2nd Grochow Uhlan Regiment, stationed in Suwałki "Przy kieliszku koić troski, Zwykł ułanów pułk grochowski. Lampas z gaci, płaszcz z gałganów To jest drugi pułk ułanów. Pomną sotnie Budionnego Pułk ułanów Dwernickiego" English translation: "Uhlan Regiment of Grochow, Tends to its problems with a shot-glass. Lampasse made of trousers, coat made of rags, This is the 2nd Uhlan Regiment. Sotnias of Budyonny, Will remember the Regiment of