Remembering to Exhale

Holding their breath,
listening for danger,
the sirens, the struggle,
sacrifice, determination,
always on guard, on the wall,
on the frontlines against terror,
stretched taut, pulled
to their breaking point…
 
Needing to step back,
to recognize their limits,
remembering to exhale,
to linger away from danger,
to recover, to change
back into themselves
to return to the battle,
suited with new armor…
 
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April 21, 2025
Remembering to Exhale
 
April 21, 2025
Stretched Taut
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/stretched-taut.html
Based on a defender’s post on
her 32^nd birthday, 12 years in uniform,
since before the invasion of Crimea…
Edited April 21, 2025
She is Ukraina, Ukraine – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/she-is-ukraina-ukraine-v2.html
Edited April 20, 2025
200 on the rear panel – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/200-on-rear-panel-v2.html
Edited April 20, 2025
Eyes that have seen too much – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/eyes-that-have-seen-too-much-v3.html
April 18, 2025
The stain of their blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-stain-of-their-blood.html
Edited April 4, 2025
sisters in arms – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/sisters-in-arms-v3.html
written after reading post by defender of Ukraine
about serving as a woman in the army,
for International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025
 
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, 2024, and 2025. 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, defenders, victory, peace,
 
#poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace