Above the mighty Dnipro, the bard, the Kobzar,
A stirring in this moment, rising from the grave,
the crucible of war, ancient power, liberation
of these people, resolute in this time, this turning,
ready, leaning in on themselves, their unity,
every soul that ever bled for this nation
marshalling their will to honor, to follow,
a challenge He had written, Glory, so long ago…
spirits, against the power of Russia’s onslaught,
no longer just their fight alone, this generation…
Perched high upon this mountain, his hilltop,
A tremor is heard, above the mighty Dnipro,
The Bard awakens, stirs in his tomb, restless,
for His is The Great Grave, where Ukraine’s Glory
was hidden, safeguarded, on the heights…
A stirring in this moment, rising from the grave,
the crucible of war, ancient power, liberation
of these people, resolute in this time, this turning,
ready, leaning in on themselves, their unity,
every soul that ever bled for this nation
marshalling their will to honor, to follow,
a challenge He had written, Glory, so long ago…
spirits, against the power of Russia’s onslaught,
no longer just their fight alone, this generation…
Perched high upon this mountain, his hilltop,
A tremor is heard, above the mighty Dnipro,
The Bard awakens, stirs in his tomb, restless,
for His is The Great Grave, where Ukraine’s Glory
was hidden, safeguarded, on the heights…
The Glory of Ukraine has been opened, awakened,
His great grave is revealed for Ukraine’s power,
treasure that Moskals fought for that was hidden,
is sung from the heights, for history, memory,
their prayers over the defenders, their hope,
together Kobzars, black-haired maidens
all sing songs of their victory, triumph,
for their boundless love of Ukraine…
together, resolute in this battle
a rumble, a stirring of their spirits,
standing against Moskals once more,
the same evil as before, criminals,
seeking to steal, to destroy, to take,
to rob Ukraine of its treasure,
her identity, her homeland…
Glory of every Hero, this fight, their history,
the Cossacks, the Hetman, the Kobzar
rising from their slumber, their fitful rest,
joining with the defenders now in battle,
knowing it is time for justice, for awakening
for the rising of their people, for Ukraine,
to be restored, to finally be free…
treasure that Moskals fought for that was hidden,
is sung from the heights, for history, memory,
their prayers over the defenders, their hope,
together Kobzars, black-haired maidens
all sing songs of their victory, triumph,
for their boundless love of Ukraine…
together, resolute in this battle
a rumble, a stirring of their spirits,
standing against Moskals once more,
the same evil as before, criminals,
seeking to steal, to destroy, to take,
to rob Ukraine of its treasure,
her identity, her homeland…
Glory of every Hero, this fight, their history,
the Cossacks, the Hetman, the Kobzar
rising from their slumber, their fitful rest,
joining with the defenders now in battle,
knowing it is time for justice, for awakening
for the rising of their people, for Ukraine,
to be restored, to finally be free…
--------
Edited June 2, 2025
High upon a mountain – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/high-upon-mountain-v4.html
expanding on last stanza of after poem, “The spell has
been broken – v4”,
based on Shevchenko’s poems, “The Great Grave”,
“To Marko Vovchok”,
about Maria Markovich,
and “Hosea, Chapter XIV”,
by Taras Shevchenko,
taking his poem into the Ukraine / Russia War
and the bravery of the people of Ukraine now
and the idea that the grave of Taras Shevchenko itself is The Great Grave...
Edited November 4, 2024
The spell has been broken – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-spell-has-been-broken-v4.html
Edited November 28, 2024
The Great Grave has been opened – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-great-grave-has-been-opened-v3.html
edited and posted October 18, 2024
based on the poem, “The Great Grave”,
Edited November 28, 2024
The Great Grave being opened – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-great-grave-being-opened-v3.html
after poem, “The Great Grave being opened”,
based on the poem, “The Great Grave”
Edited October 3, 2025
A voice against injustice – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-voice-against-injustice-v4.html
Poems about Ukraine and the book, The Poet of Ukraine,
about the life and poetry of the Bard of Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko,
which I read after Hurricane Helene,
from 9/29/2024 to 10/13/24
Edited October 3, 2025
peace in his spirit – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/peace-in-his-spirit-v3.html
after poem, “peace in his spirit”,
based on the poem, “To Marko Vovchok”,
by Taras Shevchenko,
about Maria Markovich,
written 1/24/1859
Edited October 3, 2025
Sing to me, Taras – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/sing-to-me-taras-v3.html
a prayer to Taras Shevchenko
Edited September 30, 2025
Channeling Taras – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/channeling-taras-v6.html
About Taras Shevchenko speaking to my spirit,
through his life and poetry
Edited September 29, 2025
I hear Taras’ whisper to me… - v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/i-hear-taras-whisper-to-me-v5.html
about Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko…
Robert Burns, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Nikolai Gogol…
Robert Frost and Mary Oliver…
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, grave,
Edited June 2, 2025
High upon a mountain – v4
based on Shevchenko’s poems, “The Great Grave”,
“To Marko Vovchok”,
about Maria Markovich,
and “Hosea, Chapter XIV”,
by Taras Shevchenko,
taking his poem into the Ukraine / Russia War
and the bravery of the people of Ukraine now
and the idea that the grave of Taras Shevchenko itself is The Great Grave...
Edited November 4, 2024
The spell has been broken – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-spell-has-been-broken-v4.html
Edited November 28, 2024
The Great Grave has been opened – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-great-grave-has-been-opened-v3.html
edited and posted October 18, 2024
based on the poem, “The Great Grave”,
Edited November 28, 2024
The Great Grave being opened – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-great-grave-being-opened-v3.html
after poem, “The Great Grave being opened”,
based on the poem, “The Great Grave”
Edited October 3, 2025
A voice against injustice – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-voice-against-injustice-v4.html
Poems about Ukraine and the book, The Poet of Ukraine,
about the life and poetry of the Bard of Ukraine, Taras Shevchenko,
which I read after Hurricane Helene,
from 9/29/2024 to 10/13/24
Edited October 3, 2025
peace in his spirit – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/peace-in-his-spirit-v3.html
after poem, “peace in his spirit”,
based on the poem, “To Marko Vovchok”,
by Taras Shevchenko,
about Maria Markovich,
written 1/24/1859
Edited October 3, 2025
Sing to me, Taras – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/sing-to-me-taras-v3.html
a prayer to Taras Shevchenko
Edited September 30, 2025
Channeling Taras – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/channeling-taras-v6.html
About Taras Shevchenko speaking to my spirit,
through his life and poetry
Edited September 29, 2025
I hear Taras’ whisper to me… - v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/i-hear-taras-whisper-to-me-v5.html
about Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko…
Robert Burns, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Nikolai Gogol…
Robert Frost and Mary Oliver…
Poetry Where You Live.
