the threat much closer – v5

bad news building, growing,
Iran about to be hit, reprisals,
Ukraine developed ballistic missiles,
an ally shot dead in Moscow,
what does that portend for the future,
sand almost out of the hourglass..
 
how his demons must call him, shrieking,
in the darkness, taunting him beyond midnight,
does he know them, does he know their names,
does it matter what he has been drinking,
finding him alone in the bunker, his cell,
nowhere to go, to run from his terrors…
 
his living nightmares, like the snares on Pilate,
haunted daily by their innocent blood,
as Bulgakov shared so well, torment,
his ego captured, in fear, in distance,
keeping everyone away from him,
more than at arm’s length…
 
no, he doesn’t have to fear Ukraine, NATO,
an outside aggressor, a foreign enemy,
within the walls his gilded dungeon,
the threat much closer, truly,
sometimes as close as breath,
a dagger pushed, into his chest…
 
his days are numbered, his life borrowed,
their curses already spoken, a mist, a fog,
the coup will come, in an instant, suddenly,
when he least expects it, sooner,
rising from the Kremlin itself,
from its very walls…
 
will he groan, “Et tu, Brute?”
when a friend turns the knife,
will blood fall from his lip,
frozen in mid-air, juxtaposed
with his shocked amazement,
that they got so close…
 
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Edited October 2, 2024
the threat much closer – v5
 
typed October 15, 2024
Edited September 25, 2024
the threat much closer – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-threat-much-closer-v4.html
September 10, 2024
The stain of innocent blood – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v5.html
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, Master and Margarita,
by Mikhail Bulgakov, where Pilate is spending eternity, not in heaven or hell,
but trying to wash the innocent blood Jesus Christ from his hands.
This poem is transferring that same nightmarish judgment on Vladimir Putin
for the innocent blood of the people of Ukraine...
originally drafted April 1, 2022, 38 days into the full-scale invasion
&
Edited September 25, 2024
History will curse him – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/history-will-curse-him-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
His fall will be epic – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/his-fall-will-be-epic-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
He is an Anti-Christ, a Satan – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/he-is-anti-christ-satan-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
His arrogance, his ego – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/his-arrogance-his-ego-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
the soul of a monster
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-soul-of-monster.html
September 24, 2024
Twitter post by Roman Sheremeta
https://x.com/rshereme/status/1838598704401457311
“One of the main russian propagandists Solovyev suggests
Putin's resignation, blaming the russian leadership for failures at the frontline.”
Edited September 23, 2024
Human life is all that matters – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/human-life-is-all-that-matters-v3.html
Edited September 22, 2024
Each human life is important – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/each-human-life-is-important-v2.html
Refuting the clear message of Putin’s war of aggression that,
“Human life is unimportant”
And the quote of Vladimir Kara-Murza in the decision to release
Russian murderer so that those held unjustly would be free,
That each human life is important…
And my poem, “Human life is all that matters – v2”
Edited September 23, 2024
A lost war of aggression – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-lost-war-of-aggression-v2.html
Edited September 23, 2024
Like a house of cards – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/like-house-of-cards-v2.html
Edited September 23, 2024
The weight of his failure – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-weight-of-his-failure-v2.html
September 22, 2024
Article by Carole Cadwalladr in The Guardian -
“Putin regime will collapse without warning, says freed gulag dissident”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/22/putin-regime-will-collapse-without-warning-says-freed-gulag-dissident
September 20, 2024
Article by Tom Watling in The Independent -
“The downfall of Putin is inevitable, says freed dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-kara-murza-putin-russia-strategy-ukraine-b2615884.html
September 21, 2024
BBC Newscast - Interview: Vladimir Kara-Murza On Life In A Russian Prison
Laura Kuenssberg - full interview with Vladimir Kara-Murza and his wife Evgenia
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0js0cx1?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 202 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
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poetry, Ukraine, God, prayer, Russia, collapse, Putin, freedom, coup, coup d état, threat, fear, paranoia, Kremlin, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, innocent blood,
 
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