A phrase too often repeated – v3 #poetry #poem #Ukraine #terror #genocide #Russia #StandWithUkraine #ArmUkraine #DefeatRussia #Kyiv #Kramatorsk #Odesa #Kharkiv #ballisticmissiles #drones #sirens

“a long night ahead”
 
a scene far too familiar, nightly,
parents whispering in the darkness,
trying not to frighten their children,
families huddled wherever they could,
in the metro, the bathtub, in the bomb shelters...
trying to stay safe, whatever that means…
“a long night ahead”,
a phrase too often repeated,
sounds of terror, of missiles, of drones,
of air raid sirens, of defenses firing, a staccato,
the danger of Russian genocide
ever present with them, Ukraine…
 
a nation in peril, on edge,
on guard for what is coming,
incessant terror, so unjust...
words of truth, an understatement,
not sleeping in their beds…
sleeping in bomb shelters,
in bathtubs, strong corridors,
“a long night ahead”,
Russia’s rain/reign of terror unending
premeditated murder, mayhem,
the danger of Russian genocide
ever present with them…
 
there is no stillness, only fear, anticipation,
millions on edge, not sleeping...
quiet shattered too quickly, terror,
missiles sent to destroy them
listening to whistles of the Shaheds…
more than fatigue, despair gripping,
cameras, bodies shaking, flared nostrils
of the influencers recording their truth,
“a long night ahead”, years now
of anguish, of nightly genocide...
screaming into the abyss...
no longer wanting to be brave…
 
---------------
Edited September 7, 2026
A phrase too often repeated – v3
 
Edited September 5, 2026
An artificial heartbeat – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/an-artificial-heartbeat-v2.html
Edited August 31, 2026
A long night ahead – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/a-long-night-ahead-v4.html
constant attack on Kyiv, on far too many cities in Ukraine
Posted September 2, 2026
Edited August 24, 2025
constant bombardment – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/constant-bombardment-v2.html
Edited June 20, 2025
may your cries of pain – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/may-your-cries-of-pain-v2.html
Edited June 19, 2025
no longer wanting to be brave – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/no-longer-wanting-to-be-brave-v2.html
Edited June 17, 2025
a long night ahead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-long-night-ahead_17.html
Edited June 9, 2025
Escalation – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/escalation-v2.html  
Edited June 8, 2025
premeditated murder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/premeditated-murder-v2.html
Edited May 30, 2025
Why are we silent – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/why-are-we-silent-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, 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, poem, Ukraine, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, drones, Russia, Putin, Kyiv, Kramatorsk, Odesa, Kharkiv, ballistic missiles, sirens, air raid alerts,
 
#poetry #poem #Ukraine #terror #genocide #Russia #StandWithUkraine #ArmUkraine #DefeatRussia #Kyiv #Kramatorsk #Odesa #Kharkiv #ballisticmissiles #drones #sirens