no longer wanting to be brave – v2

I hear a deeper cry of these people
those who have stood resolute
that have been forced to be united
those we have prayed for
across the miles and endless terror
this crucible of war, Shahed drone attacks,
sending emoji hugs, praying hands
so little really, tragically, screaming into the void,
when our leaders constantly fail them…
 
They no longer want to be brave, stoic,
a stiff upper lip against the missiles, screaming,
they no longer want to stand resolute against terror
some of them just crying, wanting to run…
they have suffered too much, too long,
while we have lived in comfort,
while we can sleep in our beds free
of attacks, of air raid sirens,
agony of the knowledge they are coming…
 
We must still stand with them
we must call our leaders, pushing,
we must fight to aid them in their fight
but we must redouble our efforts
to get them the aid they need now,
we must shout from the rooftops,
seeking to change the wind
to move our leaders from timidity,
complacency, complicity,
to finally change their plight…
 
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Edited June 19, 2025
no longer wanting to be brave – v2
 
June 19, 2025
may your cries of pain
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/may-your-cries-of-pain.html
Edited, recast, June 18, 2025
A phrase too often repeated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-phrase-too-often-repeated.html
Edited June 17, 2025
a long night ahead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-long-night-ahead_17.html
attack on Kyiv
Edited June 16, 2025
one million dead and wounded – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/one-million-dead-and-wounded-v3.html
Edited June 9, 2025
Escalation – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/escalation-v2.html
Edited June 8, 2025
asymmetric warfare – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/asymmetric-warfare-v2.html
Edited June 8, 2025
premeditated murder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/premeditated-murder-v2.html
Edited May 30, 2025
Why are we silent – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/why-are-we-silent-v2.html
Edited May 29, 2025
Weakening Russia – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/weakening-russia-v3.html
 
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.
 
Poetry, Ukraine, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, warfare, drones, death, dead, wounded, Russia, Putin, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa,
 
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