sharply-worded #pablum – v2 #Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #victory #glory #defenders #justice #peace #hybridwar #drones #words #appeasement #NATO #EU #USA

undercut by weasel words
elegant diplomatic puffery,
promising far more than delivered,
afraid of threats, red lines...
 
mealy-mouthed language 
empty condemnation 
Sharply worded pablum 
in response to attacks...
 
after twelve years of war
four years after invasion 
Red lines must have consequences 
not endless empty words...
 
Sharply worded pablum 
is of no meaning...
only arms, sanctions, 
will blunt these attacks...
 
escalation happens 
when appeasement happens
Empty words only foster 
ever greater attacks...
 
----------------
Edited June 3, 2026
Sharply-worded pablum – v2
 
June 1, 2026
sharply-worded pablum
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/sharply-worded-pablum.html
empty responses to Russia's 
drone strikes in Romania 
Translated into English May 25, 2026
The enemy has no idea - translated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-enemy-has-no-idea-translated.html
Перекладено 25 травня 2026 року
Ворог навіть не уявляє
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/blog-post_25.html
24 травня 2026 року
Ворог навіть не уявляє
після масових ракетних ударів Росії по Києву,
і протягом 4 років війни
May 24, 2026
The enemy has no idea
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-enemy-has-no-idea.html
after massive missile attacks by Russia on Kyiv,
and throughout the 4 years of the war
Translated back into English, May 24, 2026
The Eyes of the Defenders – Version 3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-eyes-of-defenders-version-3.html
Today is the Day of the Heroes of Ukraine 
день Героїв України
Translated, May 24, 2026
Очі захисників – версія 3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/3.html
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Edited May 23, 2026
Eyes of the Defenders - v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/eyes-of-defenders-v3.html
May 21, 2026
The Patterns of Their Culture
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-patterns-of-their-culture.html
Happy #VyshyvankaDay 2026
З Днем вишиванки!
 
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, Ukraine, victory, hope, courage, heroes, victory, glory, NATO, European Union, EU, United States, appeasement, defenders, justice, peace, hybrid war, drones, weasel words,

#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #victory #glory #defenders #justice #peace #hybridwar #drones #words #appeasement #NATO #EU #USA

sharply-worded #pablum #Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #victory #glory #defenders #justice #peace #hybridwar #drones #words #appeasement #NATO #EU #USA #Europe #Georgia #Romania #Poland

mealy-mouthed language 
empty condemnation 
sharply-worded pablum 
in response to attacks...
 
after twelve years of war
four years after invasion 
red lines must have consequences 
not empty words...
 
sharply worded pablum 
is of no meaning...
only arms, sanctions, 
will blunt these attacks...
 
escalation happens 
when appeasement happens
empty words only foster 
greater attacks...
 
----------------
June 1, 2026
sharply-worded pablum
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/sharply-worded-pablum.html
empty responses to Russia's 
drone strikes in Romania 
Translated into English May 25, 2026
The enemy has no idea - translated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-enemy-has-no-idea-translated.html
Перекладено 25 травня 2026 року
Ворог навіть не уявляє
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/blog-post_25.html
24 травня 2026 року
Ворог навіть не уявляє
після масових ракетних ударів Росії по Києву,
і протягом 4 років війни
May 24, 2026
The enemy has no idea
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-enemy-has-no-idea.html
after massive missile attacks by Russia on Kyiv,
and throughout the 4 years of the war
Translated back into English, May 24, 2026
The Eyes of the Defenders – Version 3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-eyes-of-defenders-version-3.html
Today is the Day of the Heroes of Ukraine 
день Героїв України
Translated, May 24, 2026
Очі захисників – версія 3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/3.html
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Edited May 23, 2026
Eyes of the Defenders - v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/eyes-of-defenders-v3.html
May 21, 2026
The Patterns of Their Culture
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-patterns-of-their-culture.html
Happy #VyshyvankaDay 2026
З Днем вишиванки!
21 травня 2026 року
Візерунки їхньої культури
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/blog-post_20.html
З Днем вишиванки!
Happy #VyshyvankaDay
May 22, 2024
In the crucible of history
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/in-crucible-of-history.html
About President Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський,
and the Ukrainian people
 
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, Ukraine, victory, hope, courage, heroes, victory, glory, NATO, European Union, EU, United States, appeasement, defenders, justice, peace, hybrid war, drones, weasel words,

#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #victory #glory #defenders #justice #peace #hybridwar #drones #words #appeasement #NATO #EU #USA

All these #threads are #interwoven – v2 #God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice #Venezuela

We are not at an inflection point, but several at once,
Different strands within the same cord…
The rise of authoritarians, their minions,
Jack-booted thugs, armed little Satans -
Just as we were warned by history -
There is a rise in violence against innocents,
Riots are rising, marching, children taken...
All these threads are interwoven,
Shoots, branches grafted in the same vine -
Tares growing within fields of wheat -
We do not know the fruit they will bear…
 
We see civil war, resistance against repression,
Brothers warring against brothers...
Cell-phone cameras of an army…
Believe your eyes, not propaganda,
Lies of those in power, shouting,
Demanding submission, uneven...
Every meeting, every statement
None of them alone unravels the system, but
Together they weave pressure across borders,
Over time, across pivotal junctures...
 
Sometimes we ponder, seeing the threads,
Seeing more clearly than the actors…
Someone pulling on just one strand,
Thinking only of the immediate, this moment,
This action, not on the ripple effects,
A butterfly effect of consequences…
Upheaval, vulnerable weapons at the ready,
Asymmetrical warfare against great powers
Based on the show of force, their tactics,
Forgetting the world has already changed…
 
Change is upon us, titans fighting -
An Age of Empires or Freedom -
Only time will tell, in its own time,
Catharsis is never tidy; it is cumulative, building,
relentless, and ever-patient. People who endure,
who persist in speaking truth, are the ones
who bend the arc of history toward justice,
even when it feels invisible day by day…
Chaos and patience exist side by side —
Both are part of God's work...
 
-------
Edited January 31, 2026
All these threads are interwoven – v2
 
Edited/new name January 29, 2026
All these threads are interwoven
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/all-these-threads-are-interwoven.html
Edited January 29, 2026
These threads are interwoven – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/these-threads-are-interwoven-v2.html
Edited/new name January 26, 2026
These threads are interwoven
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/these-threads-are-interwoven.html
January 25, 2026
All of the threads are woven together
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/all-of-threads-are-woven-together.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.
 
God, poetry, Epstein, Georgia, Ukraine, Greenland, Minnesota, Russia, United States, Iran, power, lies, propaganda, truth, ICE, Trump, Zelenskyy, Putin, history, justice,
 
#God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice #Venezuela 

All these #threads are #interwoven #God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice

Not an inflection point, but several at once,
Different strands within the same cord
The rise of authoritarians, their minions,
Jack-booted thugs, armed little Satans -
Just as we were warned by history -
The rise of violence against innocents,
Riots are rising, marching, children taken...
All these threads are interwoven,
shoots grafted in the same vine -
tares growing within fields of wheat -
We do not know the fruit they will bear…
 
Civil war, resistance against repression,
Brothers warring against brothers...
Cell-phone cameras of an army…
Believe your eyes, not propaganda,
Lies of those in power, shouting,
Demanding submission, uneven...
Every meeting, every statement
None alone unravels the system, but
Together they weave pressure across borders,
Over time, across pivotal junctures...
 
Sometimes we ponder, seeing the threads,
Seeing more clearly than the actors…
Someone pulling on one strand,
Thinking only of the immediate, this moment,
This action, not on the ripple effects,
A butterfly effect of consequences…
Upheaval, weapons at the ready,
Asymmetrical warfare against great powers
Based on the show of force, their tactics,
Forgetting the world has already changed…
 
Change is upon us, titans -
An Age of Empires or Freedom -
Only time will tell, in its own time,
Change is never tidy; it is cumulative, building,
relentless, and ever-patient. People who endure,
who persist in speaking truth, are the ones
who bend the arc of history toward justice,
even when it feels invisible day by day.
Chaos and patience exist side by side —
Both are part of God's work...
 
-------
Edited/new name January 29, 2026
All these threads are interwoven
 
Edited January 29, 2026
These threads are interwoven – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/these-threads-are-interwoven-v2.html
Edited/new name January 26, 2026
These threads are interwoven
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/these-threads-are-interwoven.html
January 25, 2026
All of the threads are woven together
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/all-of-threads-are-woven-together.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.
 
God, poetry, Epstein, Georgia, Ukraine, Greenland, Minnesota, Russia, United States, Iran, power, lies, propaganda, truth, ICE, Trump, Zelenskyy, Putin, history, justice,
 
#God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice

These #threads are #interwoven – v2 #God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice

Not an inflection point, but several at once,
Different strands within the same cord
The rise of authoritarians, their minions,
Jack-booted thugs, armed little Satans -
Just as we were warned by history -
The rise of violence against innocents,
Riots are rising, marching, children taken...
All of these threads are interwoven,
But like shoots grafted in the same vine -
or like tares growing with stalks of wheat -
We do not know the fruit they will bear…
 
Civil war, resistance against repression,
Brothers warring against brothers...
Cell-phone cameras of an army,
Believing your eyes, not the propaganda,
Lies of those in power, shouting,
Demanding submission, uneven...
Every meeting, every statement
None alone unravels the system, but
Together they weave pressure across borders,
Over time, across pivotal junctures...
 
Sometimes we ponder, seeing the threads,
Seeing more clearly than the actors…
Someone pulling on one strand,
Thinking only of the immediate, this moment,
This action, not on the ripple effects,
A butterfly effect of consequences…
Upheaval, weapons at the ready,
Asymmetrical warfare against great powers
Based on the show of force, their tactics,
Forgetting the world has already changed…
 
Change is upon us, titans -
An Age of Empires or Freedom -
Only time will tell, in its own time,
Change is never tidy; it is cumulative, building,
relentless, and ever-patient. People who endure,
who persist in speaking truth, are the ones
who bend the arc of history toward justice,
even when it feels invisible day by day.
Chaos and patience exist side by side —
Both are part of God's work...
 
-------
Edited January 29, 2026
These threads are interwoven – v2
 
Edited/new name January 26, 2026
These threads are interwoven
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/these-threads-are-interwoven.html
January 25, 2026
All of the threads are woven together
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/all-of-threads-are-woven-together.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.
 
God, poetry, Epstein, Georgia, Ukraine, Greenland, Minnesota, Russia, United States, Iran, power, lies, propaganda, truth, ICE, Trump, Zelenskyy, Putin, history, justice,
 
#God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine,  #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice

These #threads are #interwoven #God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice

Not an inflection point, but several,
Different strands within the same cord
The rise of authoritarians, their minions,
Jack-booted thugs, armed little Satans -
Just as we were warned by history -
The rise of violence against innocents,
Riots are rising, marching, children taken...
These threads are interwoven,
But like shoots grafted in the same vine,
We do not know the fruit they will bear…
 
Civil war, resistance against repression,
Brothers warring against brothers...
Cell-phone cameras of an army,
Believing in your eyes, not the propaganda,
Lies of those in power, shouting,
Demanding submission, uneven...
Every meeting, every statement
None alone unravels the system, but
Together they weave pressure across borders,
Over time, across pivotal junctures...
 
Change is upon us, titans -
An Age of Empires or Freedom -
Only time will tell, in its own time,
Change is never tidy; it is cumulative, building,
relentless, and ever-patient. People who endure,
who persist in speaking truth, are the ones
who bend the arc of history toward justice,
even when it feels invisible day by day.
Chaos and patience exist side by side —
Both are part of God's work...
 
-------
Edited/new name January 26, 2026
These threads are interwoven
 
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.
 
God, poetry, Epstein, Georgia, Ukraine, Greenland, Minnesota, Russia, United States, Iran, power, lies, propaganda, truth, ICE, Trump, Zelenskyy, Putin, history, justice,
 
#God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine,  #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice

All of the #threads are woven together #God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine, #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice

Not an inflection point, but many,
Different strands within the same cord
The rise of authoritarians, their minions,
Jack-booted thugs, little Satans -
As we were already warned by history -
The rise of violence against the innocents,
Riots are rising, marching, children taken...
All the threads are woven together,
But like new shoots grafted in the same vine,
We do not know the fruit they will bear…
 
Civil war, resistance against repression,
Brothers warring against brothers...
Cell-phone cameras of an army,
Believing your eyes not the propaganda,
The lies of those in power, shouting,
Demanding submission, uneven...
Every meeting, every statement
None alone unravels the system, but,
Together they weave pressure across borders,
over time, across pivotal moments...
 
Change is upon us, titans -
The Age of Empires or Freedom -
Only time will tell, in its time,
Change is never tidy; it is cumulative, building,
relentless, and ever-patient. People who endure,
who persist in speaking truth, are the ones
who bend the arc of history toward justice,
even when it feels invisible day by day.
Chaos and patience exist side by side —
both are part of the work of God...
 
-------
January 25, 2026
All of the threads are woven together
 
 
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.
 
God, poetry, Georgia,  Ukraine,  Greenland,  Minnesota, Russia,  United States, Iran, empires, power, propaganda, evil, truth, ICE, Trump, Zelenskyy,  Putin, history, justice,
 
#God #poetry #Epstein #Georgia #Ukraine,  #Greenland #Minnesota #Russia #UnitedStates #Iran #empires #power #lies #propaganda #evil #truth #change #ICE #Trump #Zelenskyy #Putin #history #justice

In the #crucible of terror – v8 #poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #Kyiv #UnitedStates #StandwithUkraine #VictoryforUkraine #Crimea #genocide #WarCrimes #Trump #Biden

Insanity of these minutes
The Attack of the Madman
releasing the dogs of war.
crucible of terror, pain,
history repeating…
 
Choice of the Madman
invasion, war, shelling, Shaheds,
tanks, fighter jets, on the move.
Attacking a sovereign nation
their neighbor, not their kin…
 
Ancient lines of kinship, language,
Sovereignty denied, Madman
genocide, terror in the streets,
launching chaos, Armageddon.
Lunatic on the march…
 
Dominoes poised, yet standing, defiant,
taunted by the Madman, this devil,
sabers rattling, dogs barking,
But he is encircled by Freedom.
He cannot stand in the end…
 
People are rising, stronger, resolute,
The world united against terror,
siding with the right against evil…
Night will soon end, victory…
Madman in the dock…
 
-----------------
Edited December 2, 2025
In the crucible of terror – v8
 
Edited December 1, 2024
In the crucible of terror – v7
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/in-crucible-of-terror-v7.html
Edited February 25, 2023
In the crucible of terror – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v6.html
edited February 28, 2022
In the crucible of terror – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v5.html
edited February 27, 2022
In the crucible of terror – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v4.html
merged February 26, 2022
In the crucible of terror – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v3.html
edited February 26, 2022
In the crucible of terror – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v2.html
February 25, 2022
In the crucible of terror
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror.html
February 24, 2022
Full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia
 
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, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, Kyiv, terror, United States, Stand with Ukraine, Victory for Ukraine, Crimea, genocide, War Crimes, Trump, Biden,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #Kyiv #UnitedStates #StandwithUkraine #VictoryforUkraine #Crimea #genocide #WarCrimes #Trump #Biden

#Ceasefire, #Escalation #Iran #Israel #Trump

Ceasefire, escalation,
Israel and Iran,
enemies undeterred,
unable, unwilling
to stop the bloodshed…
 
Appeasement, terror,
negotiations failing,
leaning toward genocide,
neither party able, willing,
to step back from the brink…
 
---------------
June 24, 2025
Ceasefire, Escalation
 
June 22, 2025
The Strait of Hormuz
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-strait-of-hormuz.html
Edited June 21, 2025
nowhere is safe – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/nowhere-is-safe-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, recast, June 18, 2025
A phrase too often repeated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-phrase-too-often-repeated.html
Edited June 17, 2025
a long night ahead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-long-night-ahead_17.html
Edited June 16, 2025
one million dead and wounded – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/one-million-dead-and-wounded-v3.html
Edited June 9, 2025
Escalation – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/escalation-v2.html
Edited June 8, 2025
asymmetric warfare – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/asymmetric-warfare-v2.html
Edited June 8, 2025
premeditated murder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/premeditated-murder-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, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, warfare, Russia, Putin, United States,
 
#poetry #Israel #Iran #Ukraine #Russia #NorthKorea #USA #NATO #EU #China #Taiwan #America #war #genocide #hybridwar #StandWithUkraine #IsraelIranConflict

The Strait of Hormuz

An inevitable escalation,
the closure of the waterways,
the chokepoint of the free world,
the way for oil, natural gas,
the lifeblood of economies,
a way to exert power, autonomy,
to fight their ancient enemies…
 
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz
power claimed in the vacuum,
Iran escalating further, stopping
the flow of commerce abruptly,
an inevitable next step, foreseen,
if we had eyes that were open
after their sites were bombed…
 
There are no easy answers,
a repeat of Operation Praying Mantis (?),
war raging unabated, nowhere is safe,
in the crucible of this moment
asymmetric warfare, power,
sand thrown into the gears,
shutting the world down…
 
---------------
June 22, 2025
The Strait of Hormuz
 
Israel, Iran, United States, America, Ukraine, Russia, North Korea, China, European Union, NATO…
Edited June 21, 2025
nowhere is safe – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/nowhere-is-safe-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, recast, June 18, 2025
A phrase too often repeated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-phrase-too-often-repeated.html
Edited June 17, 2025
a long night ahead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-long-night-ahead_17.html
Edited June 16, 2025
one million dead and wounded – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/one-million-dead-and-wounded-v3.html
Edited June 9, 2025
Escalation – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/escalation-v2.html
Edited June 8, 2025
asymmetric warfare – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/asymmetric-warfare-v2.html
Edited June 8, 2025
premeditated murder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/premeditated-murder-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, Iran, Israel, Ukraine, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, warfare, Russia, Putin, United States, Strait of Hormuz, Hormuz,
 
#poetry #Israel #Iran #Ukraine #Russia #NorthKorea #USA #NATO #EU #China #Taiwan #America #war #genocide #hybridwar #StandWithUkraine #StraitofHormuz #Strait_of_Hormuz #IsraelIranConflict

In the crucible of terror – v7 #war #Ukraine #Russia

Insanity of these minutes
the attack of the Madman
releasing the dogs of war;
crucible of terror, pain,
history repeating again.
 
Choice of the Madman
invasion, war, shelling,
tanks, fighter jets, on the move;
attacking a sovereign nation
their neighbor, not their kin.
 
Ancient lines of kinship, language,
sovereignty denied, Madman
genocide, terror in the streets,
launching chaos, Armageddon;
lunatic on the march.
 
Dominoes poised, yet standing, defiant,
taunted by the Madman,
sabers rattling, dogs barking,
but he is encircled by Freedom;
He cannot stand in the end.
 
People rising, stronger,
the world united against the terror,
siding with right against evil
night will soon end, victory;
Madman in the dock.
 
-----------------
Edited December 1, 2024
In the crucible of terror – v7
 
Edited February 25, 2023
In the crucible of terror – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v6.html
Edited February 21, 2023
Now more than ever – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/02/now-more-than-ever-v3.html
February 21, 2023
Remarks by President Biden Ahead of the One-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Brutal and Unprovoked Invasion of Ukraine, delivered in Warsaw, Poland
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/21/remarks-by-president-biden-ahead-of-the-one-year-anniversary-of-russias-brutal-and-unprovoked-invasion-of-ukraine/
&
February 21, 2023
Remarks by President Biden and President Andrzej Duda of Poland After Bilateral Meeting
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/21/remarks-by-president-biden-and-president-andrzej-duda-of-poland-after-bilateral-meeting/
&
Edited February 20, 2023
Now more than ever – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/02/now-more-than-ever-v2.html
February 20, 2023
Now more than ever
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/02/now-more-than-ever-now-more-than-ever.html
after President Biden’s surprise visit to Kyiv,
before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
&
February 20, 2023
Remarks by President Biden and President Zelenskyy of Ukraine in Joint Statement
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/20/remarks-by-president-biden-and-president-zelenskyy-of-ukraine-in-joint-statement/
&
February 20, 2023
Statement from President Joe Biden on Travel to Kyiv, Ukraine
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/20/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-travel-to-kyiv-ukraine/
&
Edited January 18, 2023
We have made our choice – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/01/we-have-made-our-choice-v2.html
January 18, 2023
We have made our choice
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/01/we-have-made-our-choice.html
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmyrto Kuleba
Interview by Mary Louise Kelly
On NPR’s Consider This
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1149167871
&
edited May 8, 2022
The Bear and the Dragon – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-bear-and-dragon-v4.html
edited May 8, 2022
The Bear and the Dragon – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-bear-and-dragon-v3.html
edited May 8, 2022
The Bear and the Dragon – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-bear-and-dragon-v2.html
May 8, 2022
The Bear and the Dragon
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-bear-and-dragon.html
&
edited May 5, 2022
Under the shadow of the birds – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/05/under-shadow-of-birds-v2.html
May 4, 2022
Under the shadow of the birds
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/05/under-shadow-of-birds.html
two C130s overhead
on Route 17
downtown Green Cove Springs
&
reposted April 1, 2022
Save Ukraine – v2
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1510028769184124928
edited March 19, 2022
Save Ukraine – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/save-ukraine-v2.html  
March 19, 2022
Save Ukraine
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/save-ukraine.html
&
edited March 10, 2022
One shot away – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/one-shot-away-v2.html
edited March 8, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman-v2.html
&
edited March 6, 2022
The man in the bunker – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-man-in-bunker-v2.html
&
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.html
&
March 5, 2022
The man in the bunker
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-man-in-bunker.html
February 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/dhakar_puneet/status/1498385709627224065
Ukraine Ambassador to United Nations
extracts of his speech to the General Assembly
#nuclearwar
‘This war was not provoked. It was chosen by someone right now
that is sitting in the bunker. We know what happened to the person
who sat in the bunker in Berlin, in May, 1945,’
said Ukraine’s U.N. envoy Sirgiy Kyslytsya .
&
March 4, 2022
One shot away
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/one-shot-away.html
March 3, 2022
Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBoRwbidiq4
handcuff of MAD, Cold War
cannot have a shooting war with another nuclear power…
&
March 4, 2022
International law means nothing
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/international-law-means-nothing.html  
March 4, 2022
A brutal heartless murderer
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/a-brutal-heartless-murderer.html  
March 1, 2022
Gripped by this moment of conflict
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/gripped-by-this-moment-of-conflict.html
edited February 28, 2022
In the crucible of terror – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v5.html
edited February 27, 2022
A run on the banks – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/a-run-on-banks-v3.html
edited February 27, 2022
A run on the banks – v2
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/preview/6437456/7793324946138352974  
February 27, 2022
A run on the banks
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/a-run-on-banks.html
edited February 27, 2022
In the crucible of terror – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v4.html
edits adding last stanza, about ICJ filing
edited February 26, 2022
Signs of the End Times – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/signs-of-end-times-v2.html
merged February 26, 2022
In the crucible of terror – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v3.html
edited February 26, 2022
The insanity of these minutes – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-insanity-of-these-minutes-v2.html
edited February 26, 2022
In the crucible of terror – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror-v2.html
February 25, 2022
The insanity of these minutes
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-insanity-of-these-minutes.html  
February 25, 2022
In the crucible of terror
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-crucible-of-terror.html
&
February 25, 2022
Signs of the End Times
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/signs-of-end-times.html
February 24, 2022
Full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia
 
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, and 2023. 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, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, Kyiv, terror, United States, Biden, Stand with Ukraine, @POTUS, Victory for Ukraine, Crimea, genocide, War Crimes,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #Putin #terror #Kyiv #UnitedStates #Biden #StandwithUkraine @POTUS #VictoryforUkraine #Crimea #genocide #WarCrimes

Freedom has finally come

She accepted her hammer,
the baton has been passed,
a new generation not going back,
ready to finish the task before us…
 
With every swing of her hammer,
parts of the ceiling are coming down,
a hope is rising in this land, joy,
Freedom has finally come…
 
She has taken the mantle, the charge,
to carry the torch farther, to strive,
to march a little longer, to succeed,
to walk through the door that they opened…
 
With every swing of her hammer,
the glass ceiling is being broken,
a way for us all to strive, to triumph,
Freedom has finally come…
 
------------------
Edited September 8, 2024
Freedom has finally come
 
Edited September 8, 2024
With every swing of her hammer
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/with-every-swing-of-her-hammer.html
August 20, 2024
She accepted the hammer
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/she-accepted-her-hammer.html
Companion poem about Kamala Harris,
with “With every blow of her hammer”
August 20, 2024
With every blow of her hammer
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/with-every-blow-of-her-hammer.html
August 19, 2024
Secretary Hillary Clinton’s speech on 1^st night of
2024 Democratic National Convention
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4SqHSwbU1g,
(especially starting at 14:08 to 16:25)
with reference to Shirley Chisolm and Geraldine Ferraro,
The 2016 DNC Party Nominee for President,
Story about breaking glass ceilings, for VP Kamala Harris
to be elected as President.
 
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, 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, United States, President, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Shirley Chisolm, Geraldine Ferraro, glass ceiling, women, justice, freedom, equality, hope, future, America,
 
#poetry #UnitedStates #America #President #HillaryClinton #KamalaHarris #JoeBiden #BarackObama #ShirleyChisolm #GeraldineFerraro #glassceiling #women #justice #freedom #equality #hope #future @HillaryClinton @KamalaHarris