Trampled, beaten, yet unbowed – v3

 
At the cost of so many lives, innocents,
trampled, beaten, yet unbowed, unbroken,
lost under the oppressors’ boots,
their missile fire, drones, their terror,
a genocide so unnecessary,
Putin’s imperialist lust for power,
usurping their sovereignty…
 
Trampled, soiled, tarnished with blood,
the noble flag of these brave people,
but unbowed, unbroken, resolute,
united in their struggle, their determination,
that the blue and yellow flag of this land,
of their nation, their independence,
will rise from the ashes of war…
 
Stained with the blood of their children,
brave sons and daughters, standing resolute,
trampled, in the mud, in the rubble,
hidden in the black soil, in their hearts,
rising like a phoenix from the ashes,
resolve personified, strong in this battle,
never giving up, pressing onward, united,
their prayer, their hope in victory…
 
-----------
Edited September 8, 2024
Trampled, beaten, yet unbowed – v3
 
Ukrainian National Flag Day, Day of the National Flag – August 23, 2025
Ukrainian Independence Day, Independence Day of Ukraine – August 24, 2025
Edited August 20, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/flying-from-every-flagpole-v5.html
Edited August 23, 2025
The Flag of their Independence – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-flag-of-their-independence-v4.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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, terror, genocide, self-defense,
  
#poetry #Ukraine #Flag #Independence

The Flag of their Independence – v4

The Flag of Ukraine’s independence,
their identity as a people, a nation,
crimson with the blood of the heroes,
stained with the blood of martyrs,
of far too many innocent victims,
their lives destroyed in terror…
 
The Flag of their independence,
wheat fields and the sky above them,
tied to these ancient people, their resolve,
standing in the gap where others do not,
a bulwark against evil, terror, empire,
Russia’s genocide unleashed upon them…
 
The Flag of Ukraine’s independence,
golden harvest and a blue sky of hope,
evoking their land, this promise of God…
their resolve, that their courage will reap,
a harvest of justice, of recovery,
a just peace will surely rise…
 
The Flag of their independence,
will once again fly high on the flagpoles,
the nation in recovery, at peace, ascendant,
changing the face of Europe around them,
cleared of the stain of imperialism,
safe in their nation, their beds…
 
-----------
Edited August 23, 2025
The Flag of their Independence – v4
 
Ukrainian National Flag Day, Day of the National Flag – August 23, 2025
Ukrainian Independence Day, Independence Day of Ukraine – August 24, 2025
Edited August 20, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/flying-from-every-flagpole-v5.html
Edited September 8, 2024
Trampled, beaten, yet unbowed – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/trampled-beaten-yet-unbowed-v2.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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, terror, genocide, self-defense,
  
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #FlagDay

The Flag of their Independence – v3

The Flag of their independence,
their identity as a nation, a people,
crimson with the blood of the heroes,
stained with the blood of martyrs,
of far too many innocents
their lives taken in terror…
 
The Flag of their independence,
 Wheat fields and the sky above them,
tied to this ancient people, their resolve,
standing in the gap where others do not,
bulwark against evil, conquest, empire,
terror, genocide unleashed upon them…
 
The Flag of their independence,
evoking their land, their hope, this promise,
their resolve, that their courage will reap,
a harvest of justice, of recovery,
a just peace will surely rise…
 
The Flag of their independence,
will once again fly high on the flagpoles,
the nation in recovery, at peace, ascendant,
changing the face of Europe around them,
cleared of the stain of imperialism,
safe in their nation, their beds… 

 
-----------
Edited August 23, 2025
The Flag of their Independence – v3
 
Ukrainian National Flag Day, Day of the National Flag – August 23, 2025
Ukrainian Independence Day, Independence Day of Ukraine – August 24, 2025
Edited August 20, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/flying-from-every-flagpole-v5.html
Edited September 8, 2024
Trampled, beaten, yet unbowed – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/trampled-beaten-yet-unbowed-v2.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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, terror, genocide, self-defense,
  
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #FlagDay

constant bombardment

Constant bombardment
attacks without ceasing
endless terror, genocide,
murdered in their beds…
 
Relentless bombings
Shahed drones and missiles
in the night, the daylight,
Russia’s constant attacks…
 
They are still waiting for partners
for the Willing to act,
to Stand With Ukraine
in their valiant fight…
 
They alone have carried
the banner of freedom
the rules-based order
this moment, this test…
 
We must share the responsibility
because Russia will not stop
they must be defeated in Ukraine
for peace to come…

-----------
August 22, 2025
constant bombardment
 
Edited August 14, 2025
Shared Responsibility – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/shared-responsibility-v2.html
Edited August 20, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/flying-from-every-flagpole-v5.html
Ukrainian National Flag Day – August 23, 2025
Ukraine Independence Day – August 24, 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.
 
Poetry, Ukraine, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, terror, genocide,
  
#poetry #Ukraine #God #StandWithUkraine

#Putin walked on a carpet of blood – v2 #Alaska #Ukraine #Trump

The bodies of the innocents are crying out
like Abel’s blood crying from the soil,
in pain at this stark image -
The enemy is returning to power…
A mass murderer given an audience,
a seat at the table once more…
 
American soldiers kneeling on the tarmac,
rolling out a red carpet, vacuumed,
our enemy, the pariah, Putin,
the butcher in the bunker, a madman…
Standing at attention for a dictator
strutting on our sovereign land…
 
Far from Washington, the Kremlin,
Evil welcomed by our leader
onto our territory, our airbase,
a place that was once Russia…
B-2 bombers flying, fighters overhead,
projecting an appearance of strength…
 
Putin walked on a carpet of blood,
warm suffering, awash in living crimson,
over the dead bodies strewn, murdered,
like the streets of Bucha, an indictment…
His shoes were dripping with innocent blood
spewing his incessant bile of lies…
 
He stood there mocking the status of America
with his lies, delays, and his cloying compliments,
dividing America from Europe, our allies…
The country of Ukraine fights,
standing strong, resolute, united,
until they achieve a just peace…

----------
Edited August 21, 2025
Putin walked on a carpet of blood – v2
 
Edited August 17, 2025
They walked on a carpet of blood – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/they-walked-on-carpet-of-blood-v2.html
Putin/Trump meeting in Anchorage, Alaska
 
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, Stand With Ukraine, justice, Arm Ukraine, sanctions,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #StandWithUkraine

Flying from every flagpole – v5 Ukrainian National Flag Day

Another year of war,

daily, nightly terror, evil,

the resilience of their people
standing against our enemy,
The madman in the bunker,
Resolute, holding their ground.
 
So much has been lost,
They have sacrificed so much,
lives put on hold, lives cut short,
blood-filled streets and trenches,
A nation’s prayer is buried with them,
in the soil of this land that they love…
 
A nation flying her colors,
Flying from every flagpole,
the flag of Ukraine, their land,
a vast rising sea of blue and yellow,
A nation rising from the ashes of struggle,
striving to meet the new dawn…
 
Light shining down upon them,
and glowing within each one of them,
a new birth, in victory, in triumph,
sharing a daily Moment of Honor,
Rising from their black soil,
a nation healed, restored…
 
Draped over the shoulders of heroes,
Flying from every flagpole,
the flag of a triumphant Ukraine,
a nation lifted in prayer, together,
Strength is their unity, rising higher,
into the light of a new day…
 
This is our continuing prayer…

-----------
Edited August 20, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/flying-from-every-flagpole-v5.html
Ukrainian National Flag Day, Day of the National Flag – August 23, 2025
Ukrainian Independence Day, Independence Day of Ukraine – August 24, 2025
Revised August 23, 2024
Facebook post by Christina Kydrava:
“Today my blue and yellow flag is stained with the blood of the best sons and daughters of the Ukrainian nation, trampled by the dirty boots of the Russian soldier, covered in mud from explosions in the trenches, carefully folded and hidden from the occupiers in Ukrainian black soil.
Today, my flag is the colour of blood and soil, today my flag is the flag of the STRUGGLE and resilience of the Ukrainian people. I want a peaceful yellow and blue to fly all over every Ukrainian home, and for now, we fight, and our STRENGTH is in UNITY.”
August 23, 2023, Ukraine National Flag Day
Instagram post by Khrystyna Boychuk, Христина Кудрява, Kydrava_
“Today my blue and yellow flag is dripped with the blood of the best sons and daughters of the Ukrainian nation, trampled by the dirty Kirzachs of the Russian soldier, soaked in the ground from explosions in the trench, carefully folded and hidden from the occupier in the Ukrainian black land.
Today my heart is filled with destructive hatred for the occupier and boundless love for a neighbor who protects and gave his life for me, for each of us.
Today my flag is the color of blood and earth. Today my flag is the flag of STRUGGLE and invincibility of the Ukrainian people.
I most want that over every Ukrainian housing of majors peaceful yellow-blue, and while we fight and POWER is ours in UNITY”
 
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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, terror, genocide, self-defense,
  
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #FlagDay

 

Flying from every flagpole – v4 Ukrainian National Flag Day

So much lost, so much sacrificed,
lives put on hold, cut short,
blood-filled streets and trenches,
A nation’s prayers buried with them,
in the soil of this land they love…
 
Flying from every flagpole,
the flag of Ukraine, their land,
a vast rising sea of blue and yellow,
A nation rising from the ashes of struggle,
striving to meet the new dawn…
 
Light shining down upon them,
and glowing within each one of them,
a new birth, in victory, in triumph,
Rising from their black soil,
a nation healed, restored…
 
Flying from every flagpole,
the flag of a triumphant Ukraine,
a nation lifted in prayer, together,
Strength is their unity, rising higher,
into the light of a new day…
 
This is our humble prayer…

 
-----------
Edited August 19, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v4
 
Ukraine National Flag Day – August 23, 2025
Ukraine Independence Day – August 24, 2025
August 23, 2024
Instagram post by Khrystyna Boychuk:
“Today my blue and yellow flag is stained with the blood of the best sons and daughters of the Ukrainian nation, trampled by the dirty boots of the Russian soldier, covered in mud from explosion in the trenches, carefully folded and hidden from the occupiers in Ukrainian black soil.
Today my flag is the colour of blood and soil, today my flag is the flag of the STRUGGLE and resilience of the Ukrainian people. I want a peaceful yellow and blue to fly all over every Ukrainian home, and for now, we fight, and our STRENGTH is in UNITY.”
September 6, 2024
Trampled, beaten, yet unbowed
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/trampled-beaten-yet-unbowed.html
August 27, 2024
The Flag of their Independence
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-flag-of-their-independence.html
&
Edited August 30, 2024
The dead do not yet rest in peace – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-dead-do-not-yet-rest-in-peace-v2.html
National Day of Remembrance – August 29, 2024
Ukraine Independence Day – August 24, 2024
Ukraine National Flag Day – August 23, 2024
National Day of Remembrance
August 29, 2014
Edited August 28, 2024
The whisper of the dead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-whisper-of-dead-v2.html
July 16, 2024
The Sound of Lviv Cemetery
https://x.com/United24media/status/1813323219954241935
X (formerly Twitter) post by United24 Media
edited August 27, 2024
The stain of innocent blood – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v4.html 
Edited/new name August 27, 2024
Streets of their cities run red with blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/streets-of-their-cities-run-red-with.html
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/neutrality-is-myth-lie.html
Edited August 1, 2024
Resolve personified – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/resolve-personified-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, and 2024. 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, terror, genocide, self-defense,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #FlagDay

Not a carpet but a river – v2 #Putin

A momentary pause, a necessary step,
falling from the precipice, the heights,
skating over the abyss, the chasm…
 
Seeing him strutting on the fresh red carpet, beside our leader,
the plane of the tarmac, the flattened, vacuumed crisp footing,
covering a pit, a gaping maw, an open wound, a fiery pit, a portal,
hiding a well of death, hidden, like quicksand, a pool of blood…
 
An abyss, walking knee deep in their sorrow, their pain,
the stain of his innocent victims, not a carpet but a river,
sticking to his clothes, his body, corrosive acids burning,
eating at his flesh, walking upon the bodies, his victims,
every crime against humanity, each war crime…
 
Their blood crying out from the carpet,
hands reaching to pull him under,
into the crimson color, the pool,
of their innocent lives lost,
in their country, Ukraine.
 
The heroes, the innocents,
speaking from the soil, the earth,
the plane of the tarmac holding them
only for so long, rising, protecting their nation…
 
Like a phoenix, a firebird, in yellow, in blue, ascending,
in victory, in triumph, uniting one nation, one people,
all of Ukraine…   
 
----------
Edited August 18, 2025
Not a carpet but a river – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/not-carpet-but-river-v2.html
Edited August 17, 2025
Putin walked on a carpet of blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/putin-walked-on-carpet-of-blood.html
Edited August 17, 2025
They walked on a carpet of blood – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/they-walked-on-carpet-of-blood-v2.html
Putin/Trump meeting in Anchorage, Alaska
Edited August 14, 2025
Shared Responsibility – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/shared-responsibility-v2.html
Edited July 12, 2025
Unrelenting Terror – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/07/unrelenting-terror-v2.html
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, Stand With Ukraine, justice, Arm Ukraine, sanctions,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #genocide #terror #ArmUkraine #sanctions #SanctionRussia #StandWithUkraine