the #threat much closer – v7 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #Russia #collapse #Putin #freedom #coup #coupdetat #threat #fear #paranoia #Kremlin #sin #stain #innocentblood #assasination

Bad news building, growing for Putin,
Iran has been hit, reprisals.
Syria has fallen, allies falling…
Ukraine developed ballistic missiles,
An ally shot dead in Moscow…
What does that portend for the future?
sand almost out of the hourglass...
 
How his demons must call him, shrieking,
in the darkness, taunting him beyond midnight,
Does he know them? Does he know their names?
Does it matter what he has been drinking?
finding him alone in the bunker, his cell,
nowhere to go, to escape from his night terrors…
 
His living nightmares, like the snares on Pilate,
haunted daily by their innocent blood,
as Bulgakov shared so well, tormented…
His ego captured, in fear, in distance,
keeping everyone away from him,
more than at arm’s length…
 
No, he doesn’t have to fear Ukraine, NATO,
an outside aggressor, a foreign enemy,...
The threat is much closer, truly,
within the walls of his gilded dungeon,
sometimes as close as breath,
a dagger pushed into his chest…
 
His days are numbered, his life borrowed,
their curses already spoken, a mist, a fog…
The coup will come, in an instant, suddenly,
when he least expects it, sooner,
rising from the Kremlin itself,
from its very walls…
 
Will he groan, “Et tu, Brute?”
When a friend turns the knife…
Will blood fall from his lip,
frozen in mid-air, juxtaposed
with his shocked amazement,
that they got so close…
 
---------- 
Edited June 25, 2026
the threat much closer – v7
 
Edited September 25, 2024
History will curse him – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/history-will-curse-him-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
His fall will be epic – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/his-fall-will-be-epic-v2.html  
September 24, 2024
Twitter post by Roman Sheremeta
https://x.com/rshereme/status/1838598704401457311
“One of the main russian propagandists Solovyev suggests
Putin's resignation, blaming the russian leadership for failures at the frontline.”
Edited September 23, 2024
A lost war of aggression – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-lost-war-of-aggression-v2.html
Edited September 23, 2024
Like a house of cards – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/like-house-of-cards-v2.html
Edited September 23, 2024
The weight of his failure – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-weight-of-his-failure-v2.html
September 22, 2024
Article by Carole Cadwalladr in The Guardian -
“Putin regime will collapse without warning, says freed gulag dissident”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/22/putin-regime-will-collapse-without-warning-says-freed-gulag-dissident
September 20, 2024
Article by Tom Watling in The Independent -
“The downfall of Putin is inevitable, says freed dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-kara-murza-putin-russia-strategy-ukraine-b2615884.html
September 21, 2024
BBC Newscast - Interview: Vladimir Kara-Murza On Life In A Russian Prison
Laura Kuenssberg - full interview with Vladimir Kara-Murza and his wife Evgenia
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0js0cx1?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
 
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, God, prayer, Russia, collapse, Putin, freedom, coup, coup d état, threat, fear, paranoia, Kremlin, innocent blood,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #Russia #collapse #Putin #freedom #coup #coupdetat #threat #fear #paranoia #Kremlin #sin #stain #innocentblood

“How can people be so cruel to each other?” – v7 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #tragedy #terror #genocide #Russia #valor #martyrs #heroes #peace #humanity #love #innocentblood #cruelty #anger #hate #warcrimes #crimesagainsthumanity #UnitedNations #YuriiHulchuk #WeStandWithUkraine

He became mute, traumatized, and terrorized,
tortured, bloodied, and beaten…
unable to speak, become a specter, a shell,
hiding deep within, protecting who he is…
But there has been a warming in his spirit,
reborn, beginning to speak, to struggle, to ask…
Asking THE important questions, truly,
the essential question, the challenge, to this world,
to leaders, for all mankind, the question to humanity…
 
“How can people be so cruel to each other?” he cries,
A freed prisoner begs us, “Why so much pain?”
He begs, “Why are there so many lies?”
in this moment of chaos, of hate, of war,
encircling this world, stalking the globe…
How could this happen, again, again,
aggression, conquest, torture, genocide,
When the world pledged, “Never Again!”,
after the Holocaust, 80 years ago…
 
This essential question, a struggle for our time,
for meaning, reconciliation, for peace to ascend,
out of the ashes of war, terror, genocide,
encircling this planet, too many to count,
martyrs and enemies, so much innocent blood…
Children in the crosshairs, old lives cut down,
lives lost to tragedy, a reign of terror falling,
“How can people be so cruel to each other?” …
How can we change that somehow?...
 
What is the path forward, out of these dark times?
How can we tear down the walls between us,
a different path, a more just future, for all of us…
Where have we gone so wrong, humanity we have lost,
the pain, the trauma, a legacy heavy upon us…
So many lives are cut down, lives frozen in time,
distracted from our paths, our hopes, our dreams…
The lament of this son who pleads with us,
to find a way out of madness, to live in peace…
 
----------------  
Edited June 25, 2026
“How can people be so cruel to each other?” – v7
 
September 26, 2024
How can people be so cruel to each other
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/how-can-people-be-so-cruel-to-each-other.html
September 26, 2024
Twitter post by Anton Gerashchenko
https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1839272173401211031
“"Why so much pain? Why so many lies? Why are people so cruel to each other?" - the first words of 22-year-old marine Yurii Hulchuk, who lost his speech and the ability to experience emotions due to torture in Russian captivity.
His mother was told by Warriors who had returned from captivity earlier that her son stopped speaking back in June of 2022. Yurii returned to Ukraine on September 14, 2024. His condition shocked everyone who saw him. But despite the doctors' disappointing prognosis, Yurii started to speak.”
September 26, 2024
Twitter post by Anton Gerashchenko
https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1839264945206120804
September 26, 2024
Twitter post by Olexander Scherba
https://x.com/olex_scherba/status/1839234252744913297
“Ukrainian PoW who lost his ability to speak - he started talking!”
https://x.com/i/status/1839234252744913297  
 
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, God, prayer, war, tragedy, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, humanity, love, innocent blood, cruelty, anger, hate, war crimes, crimes against humanity, United Nations, Yurii Hulchuk,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #tragedy #terror #genocide #Russia #valor #martyrs #heroes #peace #humanity #love #innocentblood #cruelty #anger #hate #warcrimes #crimesagainsthumanity #UnitedNations #YuriiHulchuk #WeStandWithUkraine

Soften His Heart, Lord – v2 #poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice #VladimirPutin

Only You, Lord, can change him,
Only you have that power...
Speak into his heart, Lord...
Convict his soul...
 
Soften his heart, Lord,
Change him completely,
May he repent of this evil
his great, great sin...
 
Speak to him, Lord,
as only You can, truly...
May the Holy Spirit speak
May You change him within...
 
Open his eyes, Lord,
to see his destruction,
the consequences of his sin,
Proclaim his evil intent...
 
Convict him, Lord,
as only You are able...
Lead him to repent, to change,
to turn from this awful sin...
 
----------------
Edited June 15, 2026
Soften His Heart, Lord – v2
 
A prayer to God over Vladimir Putin,
based on a statement of a Ukrainian defender
challenging my other poems...
“... you choose to harden your heart like the Russians,
you would call Mr. Putin all sorts of names,
that's not the life of Christ, Raymond...”
Edited June 6, 2026
His name is Death – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/06/his-name-is-death-v2.html
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
after massive missile attacks by Russia on Kyiv,
and throughout the 4 years of the war
Edited December 2, 2025
the threat much closer – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-threat-much-closer-v6.html
Edited November 27, 2025
The stain of innocent blood – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v6.html
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, The Master and Margarita,
by Mikhail Bulgakov, where Pilate is spending eternity, not in heaven or hell,
but trying to wash the innocent blood Jesus Christ from his hands.
This poem is transferring that same nightmarish judgment on Vladimir Putin
for the innocent blood of the people of Ukraine...
originally drafted April 1, 2022, 38 days into the full-scale invasion
Edited April 18, 2025
The stain of their blood – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-stain-of-their-blood-v2.html
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
April 1, 2022
The stain of innocent blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-stain-of-innocent-blood.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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, sin, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, prayer, curse, repentance, genocide, Taras Shevchenko, justice, Vladimir Putin,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice #VladimirPutin

Soften His Heart, Lord #poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice #VladimirPutin

Only You, Lord, can change him,
Only you have that power...
Speak into his heart...
Convict his soul...
 
Soften his heart, Lord,
Change him completely,
May he repent of this evil
his great sin...
 
Speak to him, Lord,
as only You can, truly...
May the Holy Spirit
change him within...
 
Open his eyes, Lord,
to see the destruction,
the consequences of his sin,
his evil intent...
 
Convict him, Lord,
as only You are able...
Lead him to repent,
to turn from this sin...
 
----------------
Edited June 12, 2026
Soften His Heart, Lord
 
A prayer to God over Vladimir Putin,
based on a statement of a Ukrainian defender
challenging my other poems...
“... you choose to harden your heart like the Russians,
you would call Mr. Putin all sorts of names,
that's not the life of Christ, Raymond...”
Edited June 6, 2026
His name is Death – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/06/his-name-is-death-v2.html
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
after massive missile attacks by Russia on Kyiv,
and throughout the 4 years of the war
Edited December 2, 2025
the threat much closer – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-threat-much-closer-v6.html
Edited November 27, 2025
The stain of innocent blood – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v6.html
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, The Master and Margarita,
by Mikhail Bulgakov, where Pilate is spending eternity, not in heaven or hell,
but trying to wash the innocent blood Jesus Christ from his hands.
This poem is transferring that same nightmarish judgment on Vladimir Putin
for the innocent blood of the people of Ukraine...
originally drafted April 1, 2022, 38 days into the full-scale invasion
Edited April 18, 2025
The stain of their blood – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-stain-of-their-blood-v2.html
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
April 1, 2022
The stain of innocent blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-stain-of-innocent-blood.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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, sin, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, prayer, curse, repentance, genocide, Taras Shevchenko, justice, Vladimir Putin,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice #VladimirPutin

#Pray: Soften His #Heart #poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #VladimirPutin #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice

Soften his heart, Lord,
Change him completely,
to repent for this evil
his great sin...
 
Speak to him, Lord,
as only You can...
May the Holy Spirit
change him within...
 
Open his eyes, Lord,
to see the destruction,
the consequences of his lusts,
his evil intent...
 
Convict him, Lord,
as only You are able...
Lead him to repent,
to turn from this sin...
 
----------------
June 11, 2026
Soften His Heart
 
A prayer to God
over Vladimir Putin,
based on a statement of a Ukrainian defender
challenging my other poems...
“... you choose to harden your heart like the Russians,
you would call Mr. Putin all sorts of names,
that's not the life of Christ, Raymond...”
Edited June 6, 2026
His name is Death – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/06/his-name-is-death-v2.html
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
after massive missile attacks by Russia on Kyiv,
and throughout the 4 years of the war
Edited December 2, 2025
the threat much closer – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-threat-much-closer-v6.html
Edited November 27, 2025
The stain of innocent blood – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v6.html
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, The Master and Margarita,
by Mikhail Bulgakov, where Pilate is spending eternity, not in heaven or hell,
but trying to wash the innocent blood Jesus Christ from his hands.
This poem is transferring that same nightmarish judgment on Vladimir Putin
for the innocent blood of the people of Ukraine...
originally drafted April 1, 2022, 38 days into the full-scale invasion
Edited April 18, 2025
The stain of their blood – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-stain-of-their-blood-v2.html
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
April 1, 2022
The stain of innocent blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-stain-of-innocent-blood.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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, sin, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, prayer, curse, repentance, genocide, Taras Shevchenko, justice,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice

the threat much closer – v6 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #Russia #collapse #Putin #freedom #coup #coupdetat #threat #fear #paranoia #Kremlin #sin #stain #innocentblood

Bad news building, growing for Putin,
Iran has been hit, reprisals.
Syria has fallen, allies falling…
Ukraine developed ballistic missiles,
An ally shot dead in Moscow…
What does that portend for the future?
sand almost out of the hourglass...
 
How his demons must call him, shrieking,
in the darkness, taunting him beyond midnight,
Does he know them? Does he know their names?
Does it matter what he has been drinking?
finding him alone in the bunker, his cell,
nowhere to go, to escape from his night terrors…
 
His living nightmares, like the snares on Pilate,
haunted daily by their innocent blood,
as Bulgakov shared so well, tormented…
His ego captured, in fear, in distance,
keeping everyone away from him,
more than at arm’s length…
 
No, he doesn’t have to fear Ukraine, NATO,
an outside aggressor, a foreign enemy,
The threat is much closer, truly,
within the walls of his gilded dungeon,
sometimes as close as breath,
a dagger pushed into his chest…
 
His days are numbered, his life borrowed,
their curses already spoken, a mist, a fog…
The coup will come, in an instant, suddenly,
when he least expects it, sooner,
rising from the Kremlin itself,
from its very walls…
 
Will he groan, “Et tu, Brute?”
When a friend turns the knife…
Will blood fall from his lip,
frozen in mid-air, juxtaposed
with his shocked amazement,
that they got so close…
 
---------- 
Edited December 2, 2025
the threat much closer – v6
 
Edited September 25, 2024
History will curse him – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/history-will-curse-him-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
His fall will be epic – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/his-fall-will-be-epic-v2.html  
September 24, 2024
Twitter post by Roman Sheremeta
https://x.com/rshereme/status/1838598704401457311
“One of the main russian propagandists Solovyev suggests
Putin's resignation, blaming the russian leadership for failures at the frontline.”
Edited September 23, 2024
A lost war of aggression – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/a-lost-war-of-aggression-v2.html
Edited September 23, 2024
Like a house of cards – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/like-house-of-cards-v2.html
Edited September 23, 2024
The weight of his failure – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-weight-of-his-failure-v2.html
September 22, 2024
Article by Carole Cadwalladr in The Guardian -
“Putin regime will collapse without warning, says freed gulag dissident”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/22/putin-regime-will-collapse-without-warning-says-freed-gulag-dissident
September 20, 2024
Article by Tom Watling in The Independent -
“The downfall of Putin is inevitable, says freed dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-kara-murza-putin-russia-strategy-ukraine-b2615884.html
September 21, 2024
BBC Newscast - Interview: Vladimir Kara-Murza On Life In A Russian Prison
Laura Kuenssberg - full interview with Vladimir Kara-Murza and his wife Evgenia
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0js0cx1?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
 
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, God, prayer, Russia, collapse, Putin, freedom, coup, coup d état, threat, fear, paranoia, Kremlin, innocent blood,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #Russia #collapse #Putin #freedom #coup #coupdetat #threat #fear #paranoia #Kremlin #sin #stain #innocentblood

“How can people be so cruel to each other?” – v6 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #tragedy #terror #genocide #Russia #valor #martyrs #heroes #peace #humanity #love #innocentblood #cruelty #anger #hate #warcrimes #crimesagainsthumanity #UnitedNations #YuriiHulchuk #WeStandWithUkraine

He became mute, traumatized, and terrorized,
tortured, bloodied, and beaten…
unable to speak, become a specter, a shell,
hiding deep within, protecting who he is…
But there has been a warming in his spirit,
reborn, beginning to speak, to struggle, to ask…
Asking THE important questions, truly,
the essential question, the challenge, to this world,
to leaders, for all mankind, the question to humanity…
 
“How can people be so cruel to each other?” he cries,
A freed prisoner begs us, “Why so much pain?”
He begs, “Why are there so many lies?”
in this moment of chaos, of hate, of war,
encircling this world, stalking the globe…
How could this happen, again, again,
aggression, conquest, torture, genocide,
When the world pledged, “Never Again!”,
after the Holocaust, 80 years ago…
 
This essential question, a struggle for our time,
for meaning, reconciliation, for peace to ascend,
out of the ashes of war, terror, genocide,
encircling this planet, too many to count,
martyrs and enemies, so much innocent blood…
Children in the crosshairs, old lives cut down,
lives lost to tragedy, a reign of terror falling,
“How can people be so cruel to each other?” …
How can we change that somehow?...
 
What is the path forward, out of these dark times?
How can we tear down the walls between us,
a different path, a more just future, for all of us…
Where have we gone so wrong, humanity we have lost,
the pain, the trauma, a legacy heavy upon us…
So many lives are cut down, lives freezing in time,
distracted from our paths, our hopes, our dreams…
The lament of this son who pleads with us,
to find a way out of madness, to live in peace…
 
----------------  
Edited December 2, 2025
“How can people be so cruel to each other?” – v6
 
Edited November 30, 2024
How can people be so cruel to each other – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/how-can-people-be-so-cruel-to-each.html
Edited September 27, 2024
How can people be so cruel to each other – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/how-can-people-be-so-cruel-to-each_27.html
Edited September 26, 2024
How can people be so cruel to each other – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/how-can-people-be-so-cruel-to-each_26.html
Edited September 26, 2024
How can people be so cruel to each other – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/how-can-people-be-so-cruel-to-each.html
September 26, 2024
How can people be so cruel to each other
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/how-can-people-be-so-cruel-to-each-other.html
September 26, 2024
Twitter post by Anton Gerashchenko
https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1839272173401211031
“"Why so much pain? Why so many lies? Why are people so cruel to each other?" - the first words of 22-year-old marine Yurii Hulchuk, who lost his speech and the ability to experience emotions due to torture in Russian captivity.
His mother was told by Warriors who had returned from captivity earlier that her son stopped speaking back in June of 2022. Yurii returned to Ukraine on September 14, 2024. His condition shocked everyone who saw him. But despite the doctors' disappointing prognosis, Yurii started to speak.”
September 26, 2024
Twitter post by Anton Gerashchenko
https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1839264945206120804
September 26, 2024
Twitter post by Olexander Scherba
https://x.com/olex_scherba/status/1839234252744913297
“Ukrainian PoW who lost his ability to speak - he started talking!”
https://x.com/i/status/1839234252744913297  
 
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, God, prayer, war, tragedy, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, humanity, love, innocent blood, cruelty, anger, hate, war crimes, crimes against humanity, United Nations, Yurii Hulchuk,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #tragedy #terror #genocide #Russia #valor #martyrs #heroes #peace #humanity #love #innocentblood #cruelty #anger #hate #warcrimes #crimesagainsthumanity #UnitedNations #YuriiHulchuk #WeStandWithUkraine

The stain of innocent blood – v6 #poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood

May he dream of horror, pain, night terrors,
May he be caught in nightmares forever
for the crimes he is committing,
the war on their neighbors,
on humanity, his own people,
by the stain of innocent blood…
 
He is now the embodiment of pure evil
King of the North, this false Tsar, this Satan,
condemned, no matter how many times
He may seek to wash his hands
He will forever be haunted, cursed,
by the stain of innocent blood…
 
Eternity is not long enough for his torment,
The gates of hell refuse him welcome,
generation on generations, evil incarnated,
controlled everything about him,
nowhere to hide, tormented,
by the stain of innocent blood...
 
May he be cursed, damned forever,
imprisoned in his dreams, his nightmares,
recurring, repeating, screams in the night,
seeing each face, every bloody body,
all those he has tortured, killed, haunted,
by the stain of innocent blood...
-------
Edited November 27, 2025
The stain of innocent blood – v6
 
 
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, The Master and Margarita,
by Mikhail Bulgakov, where Pilate is spending eternity, not in heaven or hell,
but trying to wash the innocent blood Jesus Christ from his hands.
This poem is transferring that same nightmarish judgment on Vladimir Putin
for the innocent blood of the people of Ukraine...
originally drafted April 1, 2022, 38 days into the full-scale invasion
&
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  
April 1, 2022
The stain of innocent blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-stain-of-innocent-blood.html
edited March 19, 2022
Save Ukraine – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/save-ukraine-v2.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
December 2, 2006 20:02
Washing His Hands
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/12/washing-his-hands.html
Matt 27:1-26; Luke 23:1-25
and The Master and Margarita
http://www.masterandmargarita.eu/en/
by Mikhail Bulgakov
http://www.masterandmargarita.eu/en/01bulgakov/inleiding.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, 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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, sin, stain, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #US #NATO #terror #genocide #selfdefense #strikethearchers #LetUkraineStrikeBack #Putin #warcriminal #innocentblood

the smile of the #assassin – v5 #Putin

when that moment comes,
getting his final instructions,
the authorization for action,
quietly turning a doorknob,
his dagger at the ready,
within the halls of the Kremlin,
the smile of the assassin,
the grin of the hunt, in motion,
seeking his damned prey
his quarry down the corridor…
 
stealth his watchword,
his training now instinctual,
a mask of privilege, of loyalty,
as no one would suspect,
silently approaching,
the embodiment of evil,
“Vladimir the Illegitimate”,
the final tsar of Russia,
no remorse, no hesitation,
deftly thrusting the knife…
 
twisting the dagger, deeper,
into the bone, the sinew, swiftly,
with purpose, without remorse,
the blade laced with poison,
savoring the moment, smiling,
pausing for reflection, awareness,
Looking into his stunned eyes,
astonishment on his face,
unbelieving, terror, judgement,
that he ever got this close…

 
---------- 
Edited August 1, 2025
the smile of the assassin – v5
 
Edited May 6, 2025
the smile of the assassin – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-smile-of-assassin-v4.html
Edited October 30, 2024
the threat within – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-threat-within-v2.html
Edited October 30, 2024
the drum beats louder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-drum-beats-louder-v2.html
Edited October 2, 2024
the threat much closer – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-threat-much-closer-v5_23.html
&
typed October 15, 2024
September 10, 2024
The stain of innocent blood – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v5.html
Edited September 25, 2024
History will curse him – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/history-will-curse-him-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
His fall will be epic – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/his-fall-will-be-epic-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, 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, Ukraine, God, prayer, Russia, collapse, Putin, freedom, coup, coup d état, threat, fear, paranoia, Kremlin, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, innocent blood, assassin,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #Russia #collapse #Putin #freedom #coup #coupdetat #threat #fear #paranoia #Kremlin #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #innocentblood #assassin

the smile of the assassin – v4

when that moment comes,
quietly turning a doorknob,
his dagger at the ready,
within the halls of the Kremlin,
the smile of the assassin,
the grin of the hunt,
seeking his damned prey
his quarry down the corridor…
 
stealth his watchword,
as no one would suspect,
silently approaching,
the embodiment of evil,
Putin the Illegitimate,
the last tsar of Russia,
no remorse, no hesitation,
deftly thrusting the knife…
 
twisting the dagger,
swiftly, with purpose,
the blade laced with poison,
savoring the moment, smiling,
looking into his stunned eyes,
astonishment on his face,
unbelieving, terror, judgement,
that he ever got this close…
 
---------- 
Edited May 6, 2025
the smile of the assassin – v4
 
Edited October 30, 2024
the threat within – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-threat-within-v2.html
Edited October 30, 2024
the drum beats louder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-drum-beats-louder-v2.html
Edited October 2, 2024
the threat much closer – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-threat-much-closer-v5_23.html
&
typed October 15, 2024
September 10, 2024
The stain of innocent blood – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v5.html
Edited September 25, 2024
History will curse him – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/history-will-curse-him-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
His fall will be epic – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/his-fall-will-be-epic-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, 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, Ukraine, God, prayer, Russia, collapse, Putin, freedom, coup, coup d état, threat, fear, paranoia, Kremlin, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, innocent blood, assassin,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #Russia #collapse #Putin #freedom #coup #coupdetat #threat #fear #paranoia #Kremlin #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #innocentblood #assassin