We breathe in Taras’ prayer,
the Kobzar’s lament, his song,
when he was far from the mighty Dnipro,
his homeland, the black soil, the poplars,
like Samson’s hair, the source of his strength
All that had been taken from him,
most of his life in exile, part of the diaspora,
far from the springs, the waters,
the well of his spirit, Ukraina…
His testament, Zapovit, a wish,
the truth of his longing, his need,
all that he is, eternal, his desire,
his yearning, his living prayer,
to be returned, restored,
His body and his spirit united
with the black soil of his homeland,
returned to the mighty Dnipro,
His beloved Ukraina…
the Kobzar’s lament, his song,
when he was far from the mighty Dnipro,
his homeland, the black soil, the poplars,
like Samson’s hair, the source of his strength
All that had been taken from him,
most of his life in exile, part of the diaspora,
far from the springs, the waters,
the well of his spirit, Ukraina…
the truth of his longing, his need,
all that he is, eternal, his desire,
his yearning, his living prayer,
to be returned, restored,
His body and his spirit united
with the black soil of his homeland,
returned to the mighty Dnipro,
His beloved Ukraina…
Edited October 16, 2025
His Testament – v2
written Christmas Day, 12/25/1845
Based on the comment of a defender, on my poem,
“The power of his words – v4”
She wrote, “I would have loved to read the thought of taras,
kobzar, and zapovit”.
I wrote back, “He still speaks to all of you defenders through the
legacy of each other. The thread of his spirit lives in all of you.”
She responded, “That’s true.”
I finished the loop of our conversation with, “That is why I felt him
speaking to me as I read that book a year ago. His spirit
watches by his grave every night, flying over Ukraine.”
I then wrote the poem, “each night he flies”, on the 14th.
Edited October 14, 2025
Break twain your fetters – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/break-in-twain-your-fetters-v3.html
after poem “Break in twain your fetters”, based on the poem,
“The Testament, by Taras Shevchenko,
Reimagined October 14, 2025
each night he flies
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/each-night-he-flies.html
Taras Shevchenko, from his grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, above the Dnipro
Edited October 6, 2025
From the heights, he watches – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/from-heights-he-watches-v2.html
Edited October 6, 2025
High upon on mountain – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/high-upon-mountain-v5.html
based on Shevchenko’s poems, “The Great Grave”,
“To Marko Vovchok”,
about Maria Markovich,
and “Hosea, Chapter XIV”,
by Taras Shevchenko,
taking his poem into the Ukraine / Russia War
and the bravery of the people of Ukraine now
and the idea that the grave of Taras Shevchenko itself is The Great Grave...
Edited October 6, 2025
The spell has been broken – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-spell-has-been-broken-v5.html
Edited November 28, 2024
The Great Grave has been opened – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-great-grave-has-been-opened-v3.html
based on the poem, “The Great Grave”
Edited October 3, 2025
A voice against injustice – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-voice-against-injustice-v4.html
Poems about Ukraine and the book, The Poet of Ukraine,
about the life and poetry of the Bard of Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko,
which I read after Hurricane Helene,
from 9/29/2024 to 10/13/24
Edited October 3, 2025
Sing to me, Taras – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/sing-to-me-taras-v3.html
a prayer to Taras Shevchenko
Edited September 29, 2025
I hear Taras’ whisper to me… - v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/i-hear-taras-whisper-to-me-v5.html
about Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko…
Robert Burns, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Nikolai Gogol…
Robert Frost and Mary Oliver…
Poetry Where You Live.
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