Do the #Kobzars sing – v5 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko

Do the Kobzars sing,
their ancient folksongs,
of freedom, of glory,
throughout the villages, the towns,
from the coast to the heights,
over his beloved homeland…
 
Do the Kobzars sing,
ancient songs of their people,
dipping their cups, their lives,
in the deep well of their culture,
their unity, their love, their identity,
the living essence of Ukraine…
 
Do the Kobzars sing,
in power, in memory,
in this time, in this moment,
of this one people rising…
Do you hear them crying,
for their beloved homeland…
 
Do the Kobzars sing,
songs of their people,
these minstrels, these Kozaks,
the words of the Kobzar,
their past glory, ancient history,
the living essence of Ukraine…
 
--------
Edited November 13, 2025
Do the Kobzars sing – v5
 
editing version 3
after poem, “Do the Kobzars sing”
based on the Dedication to “The Kobzar”,
by Taras Shevchenko
Written and posted October 2, 2024
Do the Kobzars sing
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/do-kobzars-sing_23.html
Edited October 15, 2024
In my dream, darling
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/in-my-dream-darling_23.html
Written and posted October 1, 2024
the suffering of Ukraine
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-suffering-of-ukraine_23.html
after poem, “the suffering of Ukraine”,
based on the Dedication to “The Kobzar”,
by Taras Shevchenko
Edited October 30, 2024
All my people are strangers – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/all-my-people-are-strangers-v2.html
after poem, “All my people are strangers”,
based on the poem, “Dumka”,
lament of an orphan girls,
successor to “The Poplar”,
and introduction to “Osnovyanenko”
by Taras Shevchenko
Edited October 30, 2024
after “Perebendya”
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/after-perebendya-v2.html
after poem, “after “Perebendya””,
based on the poem, “Perebendya”,
the last of the Kobzars
by Taras Shevchenko
Edited October 30, 2024
Had she known – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/had-she-known-v2.html
after poem, “Had she known”,
based on the poem, “The Poplar”,
about a maiden’s Kozak lover
by Taras Shevchenko
Edited October 30, 2024
Sing to me, Taras – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/sing-to-me-taras-v2.html
a prayer to Taras Shevchenko
Edited and posted October 17, 2024
Channeling Taras – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/channeling-taras-v2_26.html
About Taras Shevchenko speaking to my spirit,
through his life and poetry
 
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 my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, Ukraine, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, victory, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, freedom, independence, history, glory, pain, serfdom, muse, prison,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history

Do the #Kobzars sing – v4 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko

Do the Kobzars sing,
of freedom, of glory,
their ancient folksongs,
throughout the villages, the towns,
across his beautiful homeland…
 
Do the Kobzars sing,
songs of their people,
dipping their cups
in the well of their culture,
the living essence of Ukraine…
 
Do the Kobzars sing,
in power, in memory,
of this one people rising
do you hear them crying,
for their beloved homeland…
 
Do the Kobzars sing,
these minstrels, Kozaks,
songs of their people,
their past glory, history,
the living essence of Ukraine…
 
--------
Edited November 13, 2025
Do the Kobzars sing – v4
 
editing version 2
based on the Dedication to “The Kobzar”,
by Taras Shevchenko
Edited October 15, 2024
In my dream, darling
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/in-my-dream-darling_23.html
Written and posted October 1, 2024
the suffering of Ukraine
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-suffering-of-ukraine_23.html
after poem, “the suffering of Ukraine”,
based on the Dedication to “The Kobzar”,
by Taras Shevchenko
Edited October 30, 2024
All my people are strangers – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/all-my-people-are-strangers-v2.html
after poem, “All my people are strangers”,
based on the poem, “Dumka”,
lament of an orphan girls,
successor to “The Poplar”,
and introduction to “Osnovyanenko”
by Taras Shevchenko
Edited October 30, 2024
after “Perebendya”
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/after-perebendya-v2.html
after poem, “after “Perebendya””,
based on the poem, “Perebendya”,
the last of the Kobzars
by Taras Shevchenko
Written and posted October 2, 2024
Do the Kobzars sing
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/do-kobzars-sing_23.html
after poem, “the suffering of Ukraine”,
based on the Dedication to “The Kobzar”,
by Taras Shevchenko
Edited October 30, 2024
Had she known – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/had-she-known-v2.html
after poem, “Had she known”,
based on the poem, “The Poplar”,
about a maiden’s Kozak lover
by Taras Shevchenko
Edited October 30, 2024
Sing to me, Taras – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/sing-to-me-taras-v2.html
a prayer to Taras Shevchenko
Edited and posted October 17, 2024
Channeling Taras – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/channeling-taras-v2_26.html
About Taras Shevchenko speaking to my spirit,
through his life and poetry
 
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 my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, Ukraine, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, victory, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, freedom, independence, history, glory, serfdom, muse, prison,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history

Courage to Step Outside – v2 #poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war

Fear wants us to hide, to cower,
to remain cloistered in chains,
to wall off our lives from dangers,
in our bedrooms, our closets,
hidden from the world, the chaos,
the swirling winds around us…
terror screeches in every room
sirens of chaos, destruction, the enemy,
seeking to defeat us, to terrorize,
to bind us, to remain frozen…
 
But we must gather ourselves,
we must be open, raw, transparent…
we must open our locked doors,
our hidden demons, this moment,
everything on the table, exposed…
We must have the courage to step outside
despite the present danger, the risk,
evil that seeks to destroy us…
for life is in the living, the challenge
to plunge out into the world…
 
---------------
Edited November 12, 2025
Courage to Step Outside – v2
 
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 4, 2025:
 
Їду в метро й думаю, як часто ми відкладаємо життя «на потім». Пишу мамі: «Візьми когось із собою і наважся поїхати туди, поки осінь ще така красива, поки в тебе є машина — і натхнення гарантоване». Надсилаю їй кілька локацій, які варто побачити. І додаю фразу, яку, здається, адресую їй: «страх не має часу, а ми маємо обмежений час на цій землі» І далі собі думаю: Страх — це безчасова субстанція. Йому байдуже, скільки тобі років, який сьогодні день і скільки разів ти вже відмовилась від чогось. Він живе поза календарем і годинником. Страх не старіє, не втомлюється, не чекає слушного моменту. Він просто є і завжди зʼявляється, приходить будь-якої миті, коли ти починаєш рухатися і пірнаєш в нове. Але ми — не страх. Ми маємо тіло, яке відчуває час. Ми маємо шкіру, яка старіє. Ми маємо дороги, які не чекатимуть, поки ми зберемося. Ми маємо обмежений час, щоб жити, а не просто існувати поруч із власними виправданнями. Страх завжди знайде причину залишитись вдома, але враження від життя не прийде до тих, хто не виходить з дому.
Original
 
----------------
Google Translate:
“I'm riding the subway and thinking about how often we put off life "for later." I write to my mom: "Take someone with you and dare to go there while the autumn is still so beautiful, while you have a car - and inspiration is guaranteed." I send her a few locations worth seeing. And I add a phrase that I seem to be addressing to her: "fear has no time, and we have a limited time on this earth." And then I think to myself: Fear is a timeless substance. It doesn't care how old you are, what day it is, and how many times you've already given up on something. It lives outside the calendar and the clock. Fear doesn't age, doesn't get tired, doesn't wait for the right moment. It simply is and always appears, comes at any moment when you start moving and dive into something new. But we are not fear. We have a body that feels time. We have skin that ages. We have roads that won't wait for us to get together. We have a limited time to live, not just exist alongside our own excuses. Fear will always find a reason to stay home, but the experience of life will not come to those who do not leave their homes.”
&
Edited November 11, 2025
You are that book – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/you-are-that-book-v2.html
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 10, 2025
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ3pGqmDMHc
 
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 my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com 

Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, fear, courage, life, Ukraine, war,  
 
#poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war

You are that book – v2 #poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war

You are that book,
that living means of grace,
your story is being written
in the Book of Life…
 
You are your own hope
shining in this darkness
your authentic witness
touches people’s lives…
 
You are the lens, the prism,
through which you see the present
the evolving reality,
the pain, the joy right now…
 
Your past is the context, experience,
for your hopes and fears
unfolding in real-time
as close as breath…
 
You must embrace
your history, your journey
the steps that lie before you,
trusting in God above…
 
Live in this moment,
this holy now, today,
but dip your cup in memory,
life will show you the way…
 
------------------
Edited November 11, 2025
You are that book – v2
 
November 10, 2025
You are that book
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/you-are-that-book.html
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 10, 2025
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ3pGqmDMHc :
Заходжу в книжковий магазин з трохи похмурим обличчям.
— Вітаю, — усміхнено зустрічає консультантка. — Щось підказати?
Я вагаюся лише мить.
— Так… я шукаю полички, де зберігаються книги про усвідомлення. І про любов. І про відповідальність. І відвагу. І чуйність. І взаєморозуміння. І чесність. У вас є такі розділи? Такі, де можна знайти… все це?
Пауза.
— А ще… чи можна залишити свій досвід? Як у книгообміні. Щоб інші могли відчути, що ним можна поділитися.
Вона дивиться на мене так, ніби я щойно відчинила двері і в її внутрішній всесвіт теж.
— Пані… — усміхається легким здивуванням. — З таким запитом до нас ніхто не приходив. І, чесно кажучи, книга, яку ви шукаєте… наврядчи буде написана про все це. Але я знаю місце, де ви зможете її… зустріти. Ходімте.
Вона веде мене крізь вузький коридор у маленьку кімнату. Там сидять люди — переважно старшого віку. П’ють чай, тримають у руці вафельні цукерки. І кожен спілкується один з одним про те, що прожили. Обмінюються досвідом, як інші — книжками: ставлять один одному запитання, відповідають, сміються, зізнаються, відкриваються. І цей гомін накриває мене легким потрясінням.
Я озираюся на консультантку.
— Дякую вам...
Вона простягає мені чашку кави, забирає моє пальто і жестом показує: вперед — занурюйся.
І я розумію:
коли шукаєш полицю, де розкладені сенси — життя саме відкриває тобі двері в кімнату, де люди зберігають власні історії.
Там, знання проживають, але прочитати їх не можна.
Там, де ти можеш віддати своє — і взяти у відповідь щось по-справжньому важливе.
Фото архівні
Original
 
----------------
Google Translate:
I enter the bookstore with a slightly gloomy face.
— Hello, — the consultant greets me with a smile. — Anything I can suggest?
 
I hesitate for just a moment.
— Yes… I’m looking for the shelves that hold books about awareness. And about love. And about responsibility. And courage. And empathy. And mutual understanding. And honesty. Do you have such sections? The ones where you can find… all of this?
Pause.
— And also… can I leave my experience? Like in a book exchange. So that others can feel that it can be shared.
 
She looks at me as if I’ve just opened the door to her inner universe too.
— Madam… — she smiles with slight surprise. — No one has ever come to us with such a request. And, to be honest, the book you’re looking for… is unlikely to be written about all of this. But I know a place where you can… meet it. Let’s go.
 
She leads me through a narrow corridor into a small room. There are people sitting there, mostly older. They are drinking tea, holding wafer sweets in their hands. And everyone is talking to each other about what they have experienced. They are exchanging experiences, like others do with books: they ask each other questions, answer, laugh, confess, open up. And this hubbub covers me with a slight shock.
 
I look back at the consultant.
— Thank you...
 
She hands me a cup of coffee, takes my coat and gestures: go ahead — dive in.
 
And I understand:
when you are looking for a shelf where meanings are laid out — life itself opens the door to you into a room where people keep their own stories.
There, knowledge lives, but you cannot read it.
Where you can give yours — and receive something truly important in return.
 
------------
and earlier poem based on her earlier post:
November 8, 2025
Courage to Step Outside
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/courage-to-step-outside.html
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 4, 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 my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com 

Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, fear, courage, life, Ukraine, war,  
 
#poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war

You are that book #poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war

You are that book
your story being written
you are your own hope
shining in this darkness…

You are the lens, the prism,
through which you see the present
your past is the context, experience,
for your hopes and fears…

You must embrace
your history, your journey,
live in this moment,
this holy now…

------------------
November 10, 2025
You are that book
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/you-are-that-book.html
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 10, 2025
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ3pGqmDMHc:

Заходжу в книжковий магазин з трохи похмурим обличчям.
— Вітаю, — усміхнено зустрічає консультантка. — Щось підказати?
Я вагаюся лише мить.
— Так… я шукаю полички, де зберігаються книги про усвідомлення. І про любов. І про відповідальність. І відвагу. І чуйність. І взаєморозуміння. І чесність. У вас є такі розділи? Такі, де можна знайти… все це?
Пауза.
— А ще… чи можна залишити свій досвід? Як у книгообміні. Щоб інші могли відчути, що ним можна поділитися.
Вона дивиться на мене так, ніби я щойно відчинила двері і в її внутрішній всесвіт теж.
— Пані… — усміхається легким здивуванням. — З таким запитом до нас ніхто не приходив. І, чесно кажучи, книга, яку ви шукаєте… наврядчи буде написана про все це. Але я знаю місце, де ви зможете її… зустріти. Ходімте.
Вона веде мене крізь вузький коридор у маленьку кімнату. Там сидять люди — переважно старшого віку. П’ють чай, тримають у руці вафельні цукерки. І кожен спілкується один з одним про те, що прожили. Обмінюються досвідом, як інші — книжками: ставлять один одному запитання, відповідають, сміються, зізнаються, відкриваються. І цей гомін накриває мене легким потрясінням.
Я озираюся на консультантку.
— Дякую вам...
Вона простягає мені чашку кави, забирає моє пальто і жестом показує: вперед — занурюйся.
І я розумію:
коли шукаєш полицю, де розкладені сенси — життя саме відкриває тобі двері в кімнату, де люди зберігають власні історії.
Там, знання проживають, але прочитати їх не можна.
Там, де ти можеш віддати своє — і взяти у відповідь щось по-справжньому важливе.
Фото архівні
Original
 
----------------
Google Translate:
I enter the bookstore with a slightly gloomy face.
— Hello, — the consultant greets me with a smile. — Anything I can suggest?
 
I hesitate for just a moment.
— Yes… I’m looking for the shelves that hold books about awareness. And about love. And about responsibility. And courage. And empathy. And mutual understanding. And honesty. Do you have such sections? The ones where you can find… all of this?
Pause.
— And also… can I leave my experience? Like in a book exchange. So that others can feel that it can be shared.
 
She looks at me as if I’ve just opened the door to her inner universe too.
— Madam… — she smiles with slight surprise. — No one has ever come to us with such a request. And, to be honest, the book you’re looking for… is unlikely to be written about all of this. But I know a place where you can… meet it. Let’s go.
 
She leads me through a narrow corridor into a small room. There are people sitting there, mostly older. They are drinking tea, holding wafer sweets in their hands. And everyone is talking to each other about what they have experienced. They are exchanging experiences, like others do with books: they ask each other questions, answer, laugh, confess, open up. And this hubbub covers me with a slight shock.
 
I look back at the consultant.
— Thank you...
 
She hands me a cup of coffee, takes my coat and gestures: go ahead — dive in.
 
And I understand:
when you are looking for a shelf where meanings are laid out — life itself opens the door to you into a room where people keep their own stories.
There, knowledge lives, but you cannot read it.
Where you can give yours — and receive something truly important in return.
 
------------
and earlier poem based on her earlier post:
November 8, 2025
Courage to Step Outside
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/courage-to-step-outside.html
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 4, 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 my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, fear, courage, life, Ukraine, war,  
 
#poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war

the ruin of his country – v4 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history

the ruin of his country,
the scorched earth of Russia,
under the boot of oppression…
the sovereign, their masters,
ruling with an iron fist…
 
the plight of his people,
enslaved by the madman,
crushed by their fate, serfdom…
not a brother, no compassion,
just held in their brutal grip…
 
the ruin of his country,
of his homeland, his people,
manifest in their slavery…
the menace of the Moskals,
the cruel Tsar in St. Petersburg…
 
--------
Edited November 9, 2025
the ruin of his country – v4
 
after poem “the ruin of his country”, based on the poems,
“The Dream” and “The Great Grave”, by Taras Shevchenko
Written and posted September 30, 2024
the ruin of his country
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-ruin-of-his-country.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 my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, Ukraine, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, victory, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, freedom, independence, history, glory, serfdom, muse, prison,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history