Poetry Where You Live: 09/29/2024

Wednesday, October 02, 2024

my black-haired maiden

rising from the black soil,
a picture of resolve, of beauty,
eyes that have seen such sorrow,
suffering of her homeland, Ukraine...

a heart that is open to sacrifice,
a life of service and pain,
marshalling forces together,
to heal her homeland, Ukraine...

the same story, repeating,
subjugation of her people,
struggle, independence, freedom,
my black-haired maiden, Ukraine...

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October 2, 2024

#poem, "my black-haired maiden", after poem inspired by the poem, "Katerina", from #Taras #Shevchenko's first collection, The #Kobzar. #love #Ukraine #poetry #homeland #independence #freedom

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, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. All of my poems are at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In that battle where they vanquished

#poem, "in that battle where they vanquished", after poem inspired by the poem, "Night of Taras", from #Taras #Shevchenko's first collection, The #Kobzar. #love #Ukraine #poetry

the blue sea, an angry monster

#poem, "the blue sea, an angry monster", after poem inspired by the poem, "Ivan Pidkova", from #Taras #Shevchenko's first collection, The #Kobzar. #love #Ukraine #poetry

All my people are strangers

#poem, "All my people are strangers", after poem inspired by the poem, "Dumka", from #Taras #Shevchenko's first collection, #Kobzar. #love #Ukraine #poetry

Had she known...

#poem, "Had she known...", after poem inspired by the poem, "The Poplar", from #Taras #Shevchenko's first collection, #Kobzar. #love #Ukraine #poetry

Every plant not planted - v2

#poem #poetry
"Every plant not planted - v2", based on #Matthew15:13

Every plant not planted

#poem #poetry

"Every plant not planted", based on #Matthew15:13

After "Perebendya"

#poem, "after Perebendya", inspired by the poem, "#Perebendya", from #Taras #Shevchenko's first collection, #Kobzar. #love #Ukraine #poetry

Do the Kobzars sing

#poem, "Do the Kobzars sing", inspired by the poem, "#Dedication", from #Taras #Shevchenko's first collection, #Kobzar. #love #Ukraine #poetry

the threat much closer - v5

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 in 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 of 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 ever got so close…

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Edited October 2, 2024

the threat much closer – v5

#Putin #Russia #coup betrayal

Tuesday, October 01, 2024

In my dream

the suffering of Ukraine

Poem, "the suffering of Ukraine", inspired by "The Dedication" poem from #Taras #Shevchenko's collection, #Kobzar, and the central theme of his life and poems, the suffering of #Ukraine.

Sing to me Taras

Poem, "Sing to me Taras", a prayer to #Taras #Shevchenko, thst his poems would inspire, as a poet and as a supporter of the cause of freedom for his beloved #Ukraine.

Known almost in whispers

Poem, "Known almost in whispers", about the power of #Taras #Shevchenko's poetry, written in #Ukrainian, the natuve language of #Ukraine, which were largely unpublished in his lifetime, but were widely know.

In Ukrainian

In #Ukrainian- about #Taras #Shevchenko choosing to write in his native language.

Monday, September 30, 2024

the mother and the martyr

Poem, "the mother and the martyr", about Taras #Shevchenko and #Ukraine #TarasShevchenko

The Great Catastrophe

Poem, "The Great Catastrophe ", about 10 years Taras #Shevchenko was away from #Ukraine imprisoned in #Russia. #TarasShevchenko

Diaspora

Poem about years Taras Shevchenko was taken in his youth from Ukraine and later imprisoned in Russia. #TarasShevchenko

Standing before you/ the dress

The ruin of his country

Poem about Taras Shevchenko and his poems the great grave and the dream

4 more poems inspired by the life and poetry of Taras Shevchenko

4 more poems

Capturing images

#beautiful #beauty #face #diamond #spectrum #color #light #poetry

Two new poems based on the poem "The Testament"

Two new poems based on the poem "The Testament , by Taras Shevchenko #TarasShevchenko #Ukraine #freedom #independence

Sunday, September 29, 2024

A voice against injustice

not fearing repercussions
sharing his truth with courage,
a voice against injustice,
for his people, for Ukraine...

his quest for freedom,
breaking the binds of serfdom,
a message for the ages,
but first and foremost for Ukraine...

a voice against injustice,
calling us down through the ages,
steeling the resolve of his people,
his love, his Ukraine...

#poetry #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine #TarasShevchenko

The power of his words

Words to start a revolution,

speaking out against injustice,
cruelty of the hand that fed him,
that held him in slavery, in poverty,
even when he was able to break free...

The power of his words,
fear in the crucible of terror,
singling him out for punishment,
to break him, to break his will...

But he held a singular vision,
to cry out for his people,
to speak out loud a future,
when they all would be free...

His deep love of his homeland,
never changed or wavered,
even when he was far from
the river, the Dnieper,
he held onto Ukraine...

#poetry #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine #TarasShevchenko

Your face - v3

Every angle is a new story, emergent,

a new revelation, epiphany, insight,
like facets of a diamond, perfect,
each beautiful, revealing,
Another piece of you...

Allure, power, grace, enduring,
a seduction, a whisper, calling,
a new country to discover,
to cherish, to explore evermore,
in every turn of your neck...

The camera loves you, sweetheart,
capturing tiny segments only,
a lifetime in each moment,
a new country to explore,
in every turn of your neck...

The arch of your full eyebrows,
above the mysteries of your eyes
the perfection of your lips,
your strong jawline, your smile,
you set mortal hearts alight...

‐------
#beautiful #beauty #woman #model #photo #diamond #artist #muse #inspiration

Your face

Every angle is a new story,

a new revelation, epiphany,

like facets of a diamond,

each beautiful, perfect...

Allure, power, grace,

a seduction, a whisper,

a new country to discover,

to cherish, to explore...

‐------

#beautiful #beauty #woman #model #photo #diamond #artist #muse #inspiration

Your face - v2

Every angle is a new story, emergent,

a new revelation, epiphany, insight,

like facets of a diamond, perfect,

each beautiful, revealing,

Another piece of you...

Allure, power, grace, enduring,

a seduction, a whisper, calling,

a new country to discover,

to cherish, to explore evermore...

The camera loves you, sweetheart,

capturing tiny segments only,

a lifetime in each moment,

a new country to explore,

in every turn of your neck...

The arch of your full eyebrows,

the perfection of your lips,

your strong jawline, your smile,

sets mortal hearts alight...

A nation of serfs - v3

Russia wants to return Ukraine

back to two centuries in her history,

as it was in Shevchenko's time,

making of this noble people

a nation of serfs in service

to a false Tsar, their dictator,

Putin the Illegitimate...

Everything destroyed, rumble,

innocents killed, scattered,

all ground to dust, in blood,

A people defeated, subjugated,

a nation of slaves, of serfs,

of a cruel master, repugnant,

an evil nation state...

But somehow Muscovy, the Kremlin,

does not even know its neighbor,

its resolute spirit, freedom, hope,

tasting once more independence

when the Soviet Union crumbled,

United, defiantly saying never,

to Putin the Illegitimate...

#Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

#LetUkraineStrikeBack

#TarasShevchenko

A nation of serfs - v2

Russia wants to return Ukraine

back two centuries ago

as it was in Shevchenko's time,

making of this noble people

a nation of serfs in service

to their false Tsar, their dictator,

Putin the Illegitimate...

Everything destroyed, rumble

innocents killed, scattered,

all ground to dust, in blood,

a peole defeated, subjugated,

a nation of slaves, of serfs,

of a cruel master,

an evil nation state...

But somehow, Muscovy,

does not know its neighbor,

its resolute spirit, Freedom,

tasting once more independence

when the Soviet Union fell,

defiantly saying never,

to Putin the Illegitimate...

Her skin like alabaster

Her skin like alabaster,
a porcelain goddess, rising,
silk given form, substance,
hold her spirit, her body...

A lifeform, present, radiance,
eyes to light up the room,
lips to caress their senses,
beautiful right from the womb...

Her skin like alabaster,
a porcelain goddess ascendant,
murmur of ecstasy, enticement,
a heart of molten glass...

Pages

Wednesday, October 02, 2024

Tuesday, October 01, 2024

Monday, September 30, 2024

Sunday, September 29, 2024