They walked on a carpet of blood #Trump #Putin

Soldiers kneeling on the tarmac,
an image seared into history,
rolling out a red carpet, vacuumed,
supplicants, pawns, servile, angry,
welcoming a murderer, a pariah, Putin,
the butcher in the bunker, a madman…
Standing attention for a dictator
strutting on our sovereign land…
 
Welcomed by the crime boss,
the erstwhile leader, pathetic,
Trump, the aspiring strongman,
a sycophant, an agent, a candidate,
stoking the flames of division,
beholden to the Kremlin, to Putin…
B2 bombers overhead, fighters,
projecting an appearance of strength…
 
They walked on a carpet of blood,
warm blood, the color of crimson,
over the dead bodies strewn, left,
like the streets of Bucha, an indictment,
their shoes dripping with innocent blood,
his victims in Ukraine, his casualties…
Given a platform, a microphone,
to spew his endless bile of lies…
 
Mocking the power of our state,
diminishing the status of America
by the lies, the delays, the compliments,
stroking the ego of the strongman,
dividing America from Europe…
The country of Ukraine fights,
standing strong, resolute, united,
until they achieve a just peace…

 
----------
August 16, 2025
They walked on a carpet of blood
 
Putin/Trump meeting in Anchorage, Alaska
Edited August 14, 2025
Shared Responsibility – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/shared-responsibility-v2.html
August 9, 2025
Joint Statement of European Leaders
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-leaders-statement-on-peace-for-ukraine
August 11, 2024 statement in Brussels
https://x.com/DelphineColard/status/1954921635989131715
Edited July 15, 2025
Delay is Murder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/07/delay-is-murder-v2.html
Edited July 12, 2025
Unrelenting Terror – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/07/unrelenting-terror-v2.html
and Twitter post by @yes_ukraine July 11, 2025
https://x.com/yes_ukraine/status/1943644762117931019
“During the discussion "No Security – No Recovery", organized by Victor Pinchuk Foundation and YES on the occasion of URC in Rome, Khrystyna Boychuk, Officer, National Guard of Ukraine, called for more weapons for Ukraine and more decisive support of European states: “We cannot hold the front line forever. Ukrainians will keep fighting, but if you want the front line to stay where it is, your time has come. We need weapons, we need equipment, we need technologies, air defense, we need responsibility. Shared responsibility.”
Ukraine Recovery Conference (July 9 – July 11, 2025)
Edited April 14, 2025
Screaming into the Void – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/screaming-into-void-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, 202 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, God, war, terror, genocide, Russia, premeditated murder, Stand With Ukraine, justice, drones, Ukraine Recovery Conference, URC, Arm Ukraine, sanctions,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #murder #genocide #terror #ArmUkraine #sanctions #SanctionRussia
                                                                                                                                                                                           

cleaning a slicer in a tutu

vivid, bright, neon, purple,
a headpiece, a crown, to match,
a broad smile, laughing,
turning to the next task…
 
effortlessly turning,
from one station to another,
cleaning a slicer in a tutu,
oh, what a joyful sight…
 
part of the family, the team,
though she is still brand new,
smiling, laughing…
what are we to do…
 
cleaning slicers in a tutu,
in the deli where I slice,
joyfully doing, serving,
embracing the work to do…
 
----------------
August 16, 2025
cleaning a slicer in a tutu
 
March of Dimes day at Publix
 
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, 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, work, fun, family,
#poetry #work #fun

Shared Responsibility – v2 #Ukraine #Europe #NATO #USA

We must put words into action,
Europe and the United States,
more than willing, acting,
a united front, joining
with Ukraine in this fight,
standing strong with them,
against our common enemy…
 
No longer shrinking from
shared responsibility,
not denying hybrid war,
united together with them,
until there is real victory
for freedom, for democracy,
standing with Ukraine…
 
Tides are moving quickly,
drones are flying, meat assaults,
a tsunami of capitulation, betrayal,
appeasement is at its zenith,
lies being believed, propaganda,
actions being taken in secret,
summits with war criminals…
 
Alaska welcoming,
great powers meeting
a tsar, a dictator, joining,
ready to carve up Europe
as has previously been done
at such a great cost, war,
not standing with Ukraine…
 
The time for talk is long over
there is terror, genocide looming,
hybrid war rising, attacks,
risks have never been higher
advances on the battlefield,
far less than in the meetings
the backchannel discussions…
 
NATO on the cutting board
talk of empires looming
oligarchs ready for profit
the time of oligarchs, of kings,
of expansion, escalation,
a whole continent lost,
if we do not stand with Ukraine…

 
----------
Edited August 14, 2025
Shared Responsibility – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/shared-responsibility-v2.html
August 9, 2025
Joint Statement of European Leaders
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-leaders-statement-on-peace-for-ukraine
August 11, 2024 statement in Brussels
https://x.com/DelphineColard/status/1954921635989131715
Edited July 15, 2025
Delay is Murder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/07/delay-is-murder-v2.html
Edited July 12, 2025
Unrelenting Terror – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/07/unrelenting-terror-v2.html
and Twitter post by @yes_ukraine July 11, 2025
https://x.com/yes_ukraine/status/1943644762117931019
“During the discussion "No Security – No Recovery", organized by Victor Pinchuk Foundation and YES on the occasion of URC in Rome, Khrystyna Boychuk, Officer, National Guard of Ukraine, called for more weapons for Ukraine and more decisive support of European states: “We cannot hold the front line forever. Ukrainians will keep fighting, but if you want the front line to stay where it is, your time has come. We need weapons, we need equipment, we need technologies, air defense, we need responsibility. Shared responsibility.”
Ukraine Recovery Conference (July 9 – July 11, 2025)
Edited April 14, 2025
Screaming into the Void – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/screaming-into-void-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, 202 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, God, war, terror, genocide, Russia, premeditated murder, Stand With Ukraine, justice, drones, Ukraine Recovery Conference, URC, Arm Ukraine, sanctions,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #murder #genocide #terror #ArmUkraine #sanctions #SanctionRussia

I do not want death

I am not God…
I must not seek vengeance
for sins done against me
in this mortal life…

I do not want death
for those who have hurt me…
I pray they would repent
and turn to You, oh God…
 
I cannot deny, I confess,
I sometimes curse them…
they hurt me deeply
causing me great pain…
 
But, I am not God…
I am far from Righteous,
I am broken, struggling,
in my day to day…
 
I pray they would turn,
that they would follow…
I pray they would accept Grace
that they would follow Christ Jesus…
 
-----
August 14, 2025
I do not want death
 
Based on #Ephesians2-3-5
Based on #2Peter3:9
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
I don’t have the right
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/i-dont-have-right.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
Edited August 14, 2025
If I believe God is righteous – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/if-i-believe-god-is-righteous-v3.html
(edited based on suggested edits by Grok)
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
If I believed God was righteous
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/if-i-believed-god-was-righteous.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
Jesus could have cursed them
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/jesus-could-have-cursed-them.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
Chains on our lives
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/chains-on-our-lives.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
Edited August 14, 2025
Resentments – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/resentments-v2.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 13, 2025
I wish damnation on no one
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/i-wish-damnation-on-no-one_13.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 2, “Forgiveness, Amends, and Reconciliation”
Edited August 8, 2025
I wish none harm – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/i-wish-none-harm-v2.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
August 8, 2025
Forgive them, Lord
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/forgive-them-lord.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
August 8, 2025
We must forgive
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/we-must-forgive.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
 
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, God, Christ, Spirit, grace, regeneration, confess, repent, forgive, prayer,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #confess #repent #forgive
#poetry #poem #God #Christ #confession #repentance #forgiveness  

I don’t have the right

I am mortal, flawed,
I sin against God
I don’t have the right
to seek vengeance…
I am not holy
as is Almighty God…
I deserve the fire
except for the work of Christ…
 
I must not condemn
anyone to the fire
to the pit, Hell,
eternal damnation…
I am a sinner
I am saved by Grace
only through Christ
may I see God’s face…
 
-----
August 14, 2025
I don’t have the right
 
Based on #Romans13:1,4
Based on #John3:35-36
Based on #Hebrews10:29-31
Based on #2Thessalonians1:7-9
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
Edited August 14, 2025
If I believe God is righteous – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/if-i-believe-god-is-righteous-v3.html
(edited based on suggested edits by Grok)
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
If I believed God was righteous
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/if-i-believed-god-was-righteous.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
Jesus could have cursed them
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/jesus-could-have-cursed-them.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
Chains on our lives
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/chains-on-our-lives.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
Edited August 14, 2025
Resentments – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/resentments-v2.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 13, 2025
I wish damnation on no one
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/i-wish-damnation-on-no-one_13.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 2, “Forgiveness, Amends, and Reconciliation”
Edited August 8, 2025
I wish none harm – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/i-wish-none-harm-v2.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
August 8, 2025
Forgive them, Lord
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/forgive-them-lord.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
August 8, 2025
We must forgive
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/we-must-forgive.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
 
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, God, Christ, Spirit, grace, regeneration, confess, repent, forgive, prayer,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #confess #repent #forgive
#poetry #poem #God #Christ #confession #repentance #forgiveness  

If I believe God is righteous – v3

If I believe God is righteous,
His sovereignty supreme, in truth,
I must forsake my vengeance,
I must surrender wrath to Him—
my Creator, Savior, Lord,
Righteous Judge of all my enemies...
 
I must walk humbly, as God’s servant,
I must look inward, within my spirit,
I must forgive all who wound me,
weighing the weight of my sins—
each capital offense, my shame—
against Christ’s sacred sacrifice.
 
Christ forgave each one of us
as He was dying, in pain,
in agony on the rugged cross,
Jesus gave His life to redeem,
to heal the breach we had with God
for the Last, the Least, the Lost—like me.
 
-----
Edited August 14, 2025
If I believe God is righteous – v3
 
(edited based on suggested edits by Grok)
Based on #Luke23:33-35
Based on #Micah6:8
Based on #Matthew20:16 – last
Based on #Matthew25:40 – least
Based on #Matthew18:11 - lost
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
If I believed God was righteous
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/if-i-believed-god-was-righteous.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
Jesus could have cursed them
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/jesus-could-have-cursed-them.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
Chains on our lives
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/chains-on-our-lives.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
Edited August 14, 2025
Resentments – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/resentments-v2.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 13, 2025
I wish damnation on no one
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/i-wish-damnation-on-no-one_13.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 2, “Forgiveness, Amends, and Reconciliation”
August 13, 2025
Every debt has been paid
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/every-debt-has-been-paid.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 2, “Forgiveness, Amends, and Reconciliation”
August 13, 2025
one perfect sacrifice
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/one-perfect-sacrifice_13.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 2, “Forgiveness, Amends, and Reconciliation”
Edited August 8, 2025
I wish none harm – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/i-wish-none-harm-v2.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
August 8, 2025
Forgive them, Lord
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/forgive-them-lord.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
August 8, 2025
We must forgive
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/we-must-forgive.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
 
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, God, Christ, Spirit, grace, regeneration, confess, repent, forgive, prayer,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #confess #repent #forgive
#poetry #poem #God #Christ #confession #repentance #forgiveness  

If I believe God is righteous – v2

If I believe God is righteous,
His sovereignty supreme, as it is,
I must forsake vengeance for myself,
I must surrender wrath to Him,
my Creator, my Savior and Lord,
the Righteous Judge over all my enemies…
 
I must walk more humbly, as God’s servant,
I must look inward, within my spirit…
I must forgive all those who hurt me,
weighing the awful measure of my sins
every capital offense, my shame,
against the sacrifice of Christ…
 
Christ forgave us, even as He was dying,
in agony on the rugged cross…
Christ gave His life to redeem,
to heal the breach with God for
the Last, the Least, the Lost, like me…
 
-----
Edited August 14, 2025
If I believe God is righteous – v2
 
(edited based on suggested edits by Grok)
Based on #Luke23:33-35
Based on #Micah6:8
Based on #Matthew20:16 – last
Based on #Matthew25:40 – least
Based on #Matthew18:11 - lost
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
If I believed God was righteous
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/if-i-believed-god-was-righteous.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
Jesus could have cursed them
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/jesus-could-have-cursed-them.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 14, 2025
Chains on our lives
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/chains-on-our-lives.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
Edited August 14, 2025
Resentments – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/resentments-v2.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 3, “Forgiveness: Giving God Justice”
August 13, 2025
I wish damnation on no one
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/i-wish-damnation-on-no-one_13.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 2, “Forgiveness, Amends, and Reconciliation”
August 13, 2025
Every debt has been paid
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/every-debt-has-been-paid.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 2, “Forgiveness, Amends, and Reconciliation”
August 13, 2025
one perfect sacrifice
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/one-perfect-sacrifice_13.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, Day 2, “Forgiveness, Amends, and Reconciliation”
Edited August 8, 2025
I wish none harm – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/i-wish-none-harm-v2.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
August 8, 2025
Forgive them, Lord
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/forgive-them-lord.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
August 8, 2025
We must forgive
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/we-must-forgive.html
re:generation, Step 8, Forgive, Week 1, overview
 
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, God, Christ, Spirit, grace, regeneration, confess, repent, forgive, prayer,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #confess #repent #forgive
#poetry #poem #God #Christ #confession #repentance #forgiveness