#Taras' #Cry, his #Lament #Zapovit #Testament #GrandmasSmuzi #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history

Taras' Cry, his Lament,
in “Заповіт” (“Testament”)
"Я не знаю Бога."...

We hear his anguish
in a foreign land, his heart
longing for Ukraine...
 
His words were a cry, a confession,
a lament, a curse, a rebuke
Taras spat upon himself...
 
But it was a lie, an indictment
so undeserved...
for his love for his people
was breathed by God,
His words are like scripture,
a constant lament...
 
Taras said, "I don't know God",
but he knew God's heart...
 
God was within him, beside him,
in fetters, in chains,
while he was on the steppes...
In the sentence of the Tsar...
 
God was with Taras
in the gift of flight, flying,
from his prison, over Ukraine...

Taras' cry, his plea was answered by God...
He was brought home to Ukraine,
to his eternal reward...
 
Yes, Taras knew God
in his native heart...
 
--------  
Edited/ new name August 4, 2026
Taras’s Cry, his Lament
 
Based on Taras Shevchenko’s poem
“Заповіт” (Testament)
written Christmas Day, December 25, 1845
and rock version of the poem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1u5PMjodC8
released July 30, 2026
composed by Grandma’s Smuzi
https://www.youtube.com/@Grandmassmuzi/
Edited/new name August 3, 2026
Taras’ Cry
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/taras-cry.html
August 2, 2026
Taras’ words
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/taras-words.html
Edited June 30, 2026
Taras saw this future – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/06/taras-saw-this-future-v4.html
Edited December 1, 2025
His prayer was answered – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/his-prayer-was-answered-v3.html
based on the poem, “Zapovit”, “Testament”
Edited December 1, 2025
lay my body – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/lay-my-body-v4.html
Edited October 16, 2025
His Testament – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/his-testament-v2.html
based on the poem, “Zapovit”, “Testament”
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
Shevchenko’s poems, “The Great Grave”, “To Marko Vovchok”, “Hosea, Chapter XIV”
 
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, 2025, and 2026. 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, prison, grave, Zapovit, Testament, Grandma’s Smuzi, serfdom,
 
#Zapovit #Testament #GrandmasSmuzi #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history