Shaking off the chains of the oppressor – v2

Yearning to breathe free, finally, again,
to walk, to live in their freedom, in peace,
shaking off the chains of the oppressor
a wave sweeping the nations, alive,
a groundswell of protest, defiance,
taking up arms to defend, to survive,
those who have lived under the boot,
of corruption, of their oppression,
marching, shouting, fighting to be free,
to breathe the fresh air of freedom…
 
We must stand with them, in this moment,
each people, these many nations, striving,
all who have lived under the chains, the yoke,
the shackles of the aggressor, the one enemy,
denying each of them freedom, independence,
striving to keep all of these people imprisoned,
we must support them as we are able, today,
so they will walk in freedom, unburdened,
free to be as they each wish to be,
truly independent nations…
 
----------------
Edited March 29, 2025
Shaking off the chains of the oppressor – v2
 
March 25, 2025
All of Europe
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/all-of-europe.html
War in Ukraine,
Elections in Moldova,
Protest in Georgia, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey,
Freedom Day in Belarus
March 25, 2025
Belarus must be free
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/belarus-must-be-free.html
Edited March 25, 2025
We must stand with Georgia
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-must-stand-with-georgia.html
Edited December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/russia-must-be-defeated-v2.html
Edited December 24, 2024
There is only one Enemy, Russia – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/there-is-one-enemy-russia-v3.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, 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, freedom, prayer, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, EU, NATO, Balkan Spring, Stand With Ukraine,
 
#poetry #freedom #prayer #Georgia #Ukraine #Belarus #Moldova #Turkey #Hungary #Romania #Slovakia #Serbia #EU #NATO #BalkanSpring #StandWithUkraine

We have chosen the path of evil – v2

We have chosen the easy way,
the path of evil, of power, ruthless,
choosing poorly in this moment, awful,
siding with the aggressor, the bully,
seeking to divide, to conquer, to own,
seeking greater control, conquest,
eating the heart of the victims, their spirits,
a ravenous monster, a Satan, evil,
bent on expansion, on subjugation,
leaving the rule of law in the dust…
 
We must wake up, we must fight,
we must speak out against this evil,
a choice to side with the murderer Cain,
seeking to kill his brother, righteous,
innocent blood crying out from the soil,
for justice, for the right to live, to survive,
that evil would be vanquished, today,
oh, I pray that we would wake up,
that we would choose differently,
that we would support our ally today…
 
===================
Edited March 28, 2025
We have chosen the path of evil – v2
 
Edited March 28, 2025
Compromised – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/compromised-v2.html
Edited March 28, 2025
Under the spell of Woland – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/under-spell-of-woland-v3.html
See the novel, The Master and Margarita, by Bulgakov
and the play, “Faust”, by Goethe
Edited March 26, 2025
We have become what we abhor – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-become-what-we-abhor-v3.html
Edited March 6, 2025
There is no neutrality in genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/there-is-no-neutrality-in-genocide-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, 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, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #genocide #StandWithUkraine

Compromised – v2

A once great power, a nation,
compromised, beholden to evil,
by design or by coercion,
holding fast to the tyrant
to the positions of Satan
to terror and genocide
against this kind and good people…
 
We will most likely never know,
not fully, for certain, objectively,
how this reality came to life, our ruin,
but we see the fingerprints of the bully,
of the murderer, this aggressor,
on the flesh of the puppets, villains,
the criminals in power…
 
Fallen into a trance, a malaise,
compromised, complicit, fallen,
leaders of our nation, become minions,
pawns in the crucible of war, of terror,
the genocide on this people,
beholden to the madman,
oh, may they cut the evil cords…
 
===================
Edited March 28, 2025
Compromised – v2
 
Edited March 28, 2025
Under the spell of Woland – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/under-spell-of-woland-v3.html
See the novel, The Master and Margarita, by Bulgakov
and the play, “Faust”, by Goethe
March 27, 2025
We have chosen the path of evil
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-chosen-path-of-evil.html
Edited March 26, 2025
We have become what we abhor – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-become-what-we-abhor-v3.html
Edited March 6, 2025
There is no neutrality in genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/there-is-no-neutrality-in-genocide-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, 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, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #genocide #StandWithUkraine

Under the spell of #Woland – v3 #Bulgakov #Moscow #Putin

Under the spell of his master, Woland,
Satan, Mephistopheles, the Devil,
captured in his poverty, in his panic,
gathered on the streets of Moscow,
by pleasure, power, insatiable lusts…
 
Compromised by his passions,
his lusts, his wanting power,
drawn into communion, dominion
with evil, with his carnal nature,
with the darkness of this fallen world…
 
Swallowed by his baser instincts,
his perversions, the bile, the spasms,
his lusts for the innocent, the young,
that which drives him corrupted,
through his days, for all time…
 
Ruin awaits him, apostacy,
in the judgement coming for him,
when the law catches up with him,
drawn by the puppeteer, his master,
Woland, Satan, the Devil as one,
pulled down into the pit…
 
===================
Edited March 28, 2025
Under the spell of Woland – v3
 
Edited March 27, 2025
Under the spell of Woland – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/under-spell-of-woland-v2.html
See the novel, The Master and Margarita, by Bulgakov
and the play, “Faust”, by Goethe
March 27, 2025
Compromised
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/compromised.html
March 27, 2025
We have chosen the path of evil
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-chosen-path-of-evil.html
Edited March 26, 2025
We have become what we abhor – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-become-what-we-abhor-v3.html
Edited March 10, 2025
Betrayal – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/betrayal-v3.html
Edited March 6, 2025
There is no neutrality in genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/there-is-no-neutrality-in-genocide-v2.html
Edited October 31, 2024
A Faustian Tragedy – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-faustian-tragedy-v2.html
after poem, “A Faustian Tragedy”,
This poem comes from the ironic titling by Shevchenko that his poem, “The Great Grave”, is “A Comedy”. The fate of these people, in aligning themselves or even acquiescing to the tyranny of Tsarist Russia, is a Faustian tragedy for themselves and for the country of Ukraine. It is a devil’s bargain as in Faust, by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, so in keeping with the choices made by the trio of souls in Shevchenko’s poem. He mentions Goethe in his own writings.
September 24, 2024
He is an Anti-Christ, a Satan
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/he-is-ant-christ-satan.html
September 10, 2024
The stain of innocent blood – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v5.html
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, 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
 
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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, Satan, America, terror, genocide, Goethe, Faust, Mephistopheles,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #StandWithUkraine #terror #genocide #Goethe #Faust #Mephistopheles #America

Under the spell of #Woland – v2 #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita

Under the spell of Woland, Satan,
Mephistopheles, the Devil,
gathered on the streets of Moscow,
by pleasure, power, insatiable lusts…
 
Compromised by his passions,
drawn into communion, dominion
with evil, with his carnal nature,
with the darkness of this world…
 
Swallowed by his baser instincts,
his perversions, the bile, the spasms,
that which drives him corrupted,
through his days, for all time…
 
Ruin awaits him, apostacy,
in the judgement coming for him,
drawn by the puppeteer, his master,
Woland, Satan, the Devil as one…
 
===================
Edited March 27, 2025
Under the spell of Woland – v2
 
See the novel, The Master and Margarita, by Bulgakov
and the play, “Faust”, by Goethe
March 27, 2025
Compromised
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/compromised.html
March 27, 2025
We have chosen the path of evil
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-chosen-path-of-evil.html
Edited March 26, 2025
We have become what we abhor – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-become-what-we-abhor-v3.html
Edited March 10, 2025
Betrayal – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/betrayal-v3.html
Edited March 6, 2025
There is no neutrality in genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/there-is-no-neutrality-in-genocide-v2.html
Edited October 31, 2024
A Faustian Tragedy – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-faustian-tragedy-v2.html
after poem, “A Faustian Tragedy”,
This poem comes from the ironic titling by Shevchenko that his poem, “The Great Grave”, is “A Comedy”. The fate of these people, in aligning themselves or even acquiescing to the tyranny of Tsarist Russia, is a Faustian tragedy for themselves and for the country of Ukraine. It is a devil’s bargain as in Faust, by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, so in keeping with the choices made by the trio of souls in Shevchenko’s poem. He mentions Goethe in his own writings.
September 24, 2024
He is an Anti-Christ, a Satan
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/he-is-ant-christ-satan.html
September 10, 2024
The stain of innocent blood – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v5.html
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, 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
 
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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, Satan, America, terror, genocide, Goethe, Faust, Mephistopheles,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #StandWithUkraine #terror #genocide #Goethe #Faust #Mephistopheles #America

Under the spell of #Woland #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita

Under the spell of Woland,
Mephistopheles, the Devil,
gathering in the streets of Moscow,
by his unsatiable lusts…
 
Compromised by his passions,
drawn into communion,
dominion with evil,
with the darkness of this world…
 
Swallowed by his baser instincts,
his perversions, the bile,
that which drives him corrupted,
through his days, for all time…
 
Ruin awaits him, apostacy,
in the judgement to come,
drawa by the puppeteer,
Woland, Satan, the Devil as one…
 
===================
March 27, 2025
Under the spell of Woland
 
See the novel, The Master and Margarita, by Bulgakov
and the play, “Faust”, by Goethe
March 27, 2025
Compromised
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/compromised.html
March 27, 2025
We have chosen the path of evil
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-chosen-path-of-evil.html
Edited March 26, 2025
We have become what we abhor – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-become-what-we-abhor-v3.html
Edited March 10, 2025
Betrayal – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/betrayal-v3.html
Edited March 6, 2025
There is no neutrality in genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/there-is-no-neutrality-in-genocide-v2.html
Edited October 31, 2024
A Faustian Tragedy – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-faustian-tragedy-v2.html
after poem, “A Faustian Tragedy”,
This poem comes from the ironic titling by Shevchenko that his poem, “The Great Grave”, is “A Comedy”. The fate of these people, in aligning themselves or even acquiescing to the tyranny of Tsarist Russia, is a Faustian tragedy for themselves and for the country of Ukraine. It is a devil’s bargain as in Faust, by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, so in keeping with the choices made by the trio of souls in Shevchenko’s poem. He mentions Goethe in his own writings.
September 24, 2024
He is an Anti-Christ, a Satan
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/he-is-ant-christ-satan.html
September 10, 2024
The stain of innocent blood – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v5.html
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, 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
 
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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, Satan, America, terror, genocide, Goethe, Faust, Mephistopheles,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #StandWithUkraine #terror #genocide #Goethe #Faust #Mephistopheles #America

Compromised

Compromised, beholden to evil,
by design or by coercion,
holding fast to the tyrant
to the positions of Satan
to terror and genocide
against this kind and good people…
 
We will most likely never know,
not fully, for certain, objectively,
but we see the fingerprints of the bully,
of the murderer, the aggressor,
on the flesh of the puppets, villains,
the criminals in power…
 
Compromised, complicit, fallen,
leaders of our nation, become minions,
pawns in the crucible of war, of terror,
the genocide on this people,
beholden to the madman,
oh, may they cut the cords…
 
 
===================
March 27, 2025
Compromised
 
March 27, 2025
We have chosen the path of evil
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-chosen-path-of-evil.html
Edited March 26, 2025
We have become what we abhor – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-become-what-we-abhor-v3.html
Edited March 6, 2025
There is no neutrality in genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/there-is-no-neutrality-in-genocide-v2.html  
Edited December 12, 2024
The blood of the dead in Bucha – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha-v6.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, 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, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #genocide #StandWithUkraine

Book, "After Taras" #TarasShevchenko #Ukraine #poetry

Updated draft book, "After Taras"

#StandWithUkraine 

#TarasShevchenko

#GloryToTheHeroes

#GlorytoUkraine 

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, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. All of my poems are at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

We have chosen the path of evil

We have chosen the easy way,
the path of evil, of power,
choosing poorly in this moment,
siding with the aggressor, the bully,
seeking to divide, to conquer,
to seek greater control, conquest,
eating the heart of the victims, their spirits,
a ravenous monster, a Satan, evil,
bent on expansion, on subjugation,
the rule of law in the dust…
 
We must wake up, we must fight,
we must speak out against this evil,
the choice to side with the murderer Cain,
seeking to kill his brother, righteous,
his blood crying out from the soil,
for justice, for the right to live, to survive,
that evil would be vanquished, today,
that we would choose differently,
oh, I pray that we would wake up,
that we would support our ally now…
 
===================
March 27, 2025
We have chosen the path of evil
 
Edited March 26, 2025
We have become what we abhor – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-become-what-we-abhor-v3.html
Edited March 6, 2025
we have become what we abhor – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-become-what-we-abhor-v2.html
Edited March 6, 2025
There is no neutrality in genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/there-is-no-neutrality-in-genocide-v2.html  
Edited December 12, 2024
The blood of the dead in Bucha – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha-v6.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, 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, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #genocide #StandWithUkraine

Shaking off the chains of the oppressor

Yearning to breathe free,
to walk, to live in their freedom,
shaking off the chains of the oppressor
a wave sweeping the nations,
a groundswell of protest, defiance,
taking up arms to defend, to survive,
those who have lived under the boot,
of corruption, of their oppression,
marching, fighting to be free,
to breathe the air of freedom…
 
We must stand with them,
each people, these many nations,
all who have lived under the chains,
the shackles of the aggressor, the one enemy,
denying each of them freedom, independence,
striving to keep all of these peoples imprisoned,
we must support them as we can,
so they will walk in freedom, unburdened,
free to be as they all wish to be,
truly independent nations…
 
----------------
March 27, 2025
Shaking off the chains of the oppressor
 
March 25, 2025
All of Europe
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/all-of-europe.html
https://www.newsweek.com/europe-map-shows-mass-protests-against-putins-allies-2049558
War in Ukraine,
Elections in Moldova,
Protest in Georgia, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey,
Freedom Day in Belarus
March 25, 2025
Belarus must be free
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/belarus-must-be-free.html
Edited March 25, 2025
We must stand with Georgia
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-must-stand-with-georgia.html
Edited December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/russia-must-be-defeated-v2.html
Edited December 24, 2024
There is only one Enemy, Russia – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/there-is-one-enemy-russia-v3.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, 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, freedom, prayer, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, EU, NATO, Balkan Spring, Stand With Ukraine,
 
#poetry #freedom #prayer #Georgia #Ukraine #Belarus #Moldova #Turkey #Hungary #Romania #Slovakia #Serbia #EU #NATO #BalkanSpring #StandWithUkraine

we have become what we abhor – v3

I feared this day would come,
when I have to say these words
that we are no longer great,
we have become compromised,
my hope turned to despair,
over the treasure we have lost
generations of fealty forgotten…
 
we have become what we abhor
we have chosen the madman,
power over right, become evil,
another face of their enemy
a brethren to their terror,
complicit in their genocide
taking of innocent blood…
 
there is no neutrality in terror,
in the genocide they are committing,
either one is with the aggressor
or with those being persecuted,
and we have chosen poorly, evil,
we have turned our backs on the victims,
of their terror, this awful genocide…
 
we have become what we abhor
another face of our enemy,
not fighting against their evil,
siding with their terror, genocide,
attacking the victims, the martyrs,
bombing civilian targets, war crimes,
we carry the stain of innocent blood…
 
I pray we wake up from this nightmare,
that we would reverse course in this moment,
returning to our values, our commitments,
that our demons would be put back
into the opened Pandora’s Box,
that we would stand with these people,
that their evil would be defeated…

 
===================
Edited March 26, 2025
We have become what we abhor – v3
 
Edited March 6, 2025
we have become what we abhor – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-have-become-what-we-abhor-v2.html
Edited March 6, 2025
There is no neutrality in genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/there-is-no-neutrality-in-genocide-v2.html  
Edited December 12, 2024
The blood of the dead in Bucha – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha-v6.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, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, Trump, genocide, Stand With Ukraine,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #Trump #genocide #StandWithUkraine

All of Europe

All of Europe turning,
feeling the pangs of freedom
stretching against Russia,
its awful heavy boot…
 
People gathering, marching,
rising against them,
the puppets, the strongmen,
those standing in their way…
 
Corruption rampant,
exposed, defiant,
people in the streets,
breathing free air…
 
The Southeast of Europe
rising, in war, rebellion,
fighting the same evil,
the madman in the Kremlin…
 
----------------
March 25, 2025
All of Europe
 
https://www.newsweek.com/europe-map-shows-mass-protests-against-putins-allies-2049558
War in Ukraine
Elections in Moldova
Protest in Georgia
Protest in Serbia
Protest in Romanian
Protest in Slovakia
Freedom Day in Belarus
Protest in Hungary
Protest in Turkey
March 25, 2025
Belarus must be free
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/belarus-must-be-free.html
Edited March 25, 2025
We must stand with Georgia
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-must-stand-with-georgia.html
Edited December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/russia-must-be-defeated-v2.html
Edited December 24, 2024
There is only one Enemy, Russia – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/there-is-one-enemy-russia-v3.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, 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, freedom, prayer, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, EU, NATO, Balkan Spring,
 
#poetry #freedom #prayer #Georgia #Ukraine #Belarus #Moldova #Turkey #Hungary #Romania #Slovakia #Serbia #EU #NATO #BalkanSpring

Belarus must be free

Belarus must be free
free of the tyrant
free from the menace
just to the East…
 
Belarus must be free
to achieve self-determination
free of the shackles,
free of Russia’s boot…
 
Belarus must be free
now, in this moment,
the jails must be opened
political prisoners must breathe free…
 
Belarus must be free
of their awful tyrant,
Russia must be pushed
out of their free land…
 
----------------
March 25, 2025
Belarus must be free
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/belarus-must-be-free.html
Edited March 25, 2025
We must stand with Georgia
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/we-must-stand-with-georgia.html
Edited December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/russia-must-be-defeated-v2.html
Edited December 24, 2024
There is only one Enemy, Russia – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/there-is-one-enemy-russia-v3.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, 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, freedom, prayer, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, European Union, NATO, Stand with Belarus,
 
#poetry #freedom #prayer #Georgia #Ukraine #Belarus #EU #EuropeanUnion #NATO #StandWithBelarus

We must stand with Georgia

We must stand with Georgia
for they fight the same fight
the same enemy, Russia,
their expansionist lusts…
 
We must stand with Georgia,
with the Georgian people,
seeking their freedom,
their right to breathe free…
 
We must stand with Georgia,
we must not forget them,
for their fight is our fight,
to live as a free people…
 
We must stand with Georgia,
with this brave, courageous people,
those marching, bleeding,
those in captivity…

 
----------------
Edited March 25, 2025
We must stand with Georgia
 
Edited January 28, 2025
Freedom fills their lungs – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/01/freedom-fills-their-lungs-v2.html
Edited December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/russia-must-be-defeated-v2.html
Edited December 24, 2024
There is only one Enemy, Russia – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/there-is-one-enemy-russia-v3.html
Edited December 21, 2024
Stand with Georgia – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/stand-with-georgia-v4.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, 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, freedom, prayer, Georgia, Ukraine, Georgian Dream, European Union, NATO,
 
#poetry #freedom #prayer #Georgia #Ukraine #StandWithGeorgianPeople #Russia #GeorgianDream #terrorinGeorgia #StandwithGeorgia #GeorgianProtests #EU #EuropeanUnion #NATO

You hold each of them closely

I see your deep love for one another,
for each one of your fallen, your comrades,
a part of each one of you, present with you,
gathering your honored dead to you, lovingly,
ever present, today, now, alive, as close as breath…
 
They are part of you, your fabric, your identity,
alive with you now in the present, your fallen
as threads woven in a vyshyvanka, your culture,
hand to heart, to linen, washed in blood,
in their sacrifice for your country…
 
I see how you honor them, in each moment,
in a continuous procession, rituals of memory,
sacred days woven into your collective lives,
how you hold them to you, to your hearts, forever,
ever present, today, now, alive, as close as breath…
 
You hold each of them closely, forever, present,
You do not forget your fallen, your comrades,
their legacy of love, of sacrifice, a bond sustaining,
the honored dead with you, present, living,
in their sacrifice for your country…
 

-------
Edited March 25, 2025
You hold each of them closely
 
March 25, 2025
Hold each of them closely
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/hold-each-of-them-closely.html
March 24, 2025 posts on X:
“The acts of Ukrainians, like kneeling as a funeral procession passes for fallen defenders or the Moment of Honor every morning at 9:00am, or the photographs on gravestones of those lost in this war, all show how love is part of the Ukrainian culture.  
 
Today, I saw a video (https://www.instagram.com/p/DHlbX7MtEjg/) of Ukrainians women defenders making Ukrainians Easter eggs with a picture of their fallen comrade, combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh on the table. Iryna’s mother led them in the class, making the eggs.
 
All of these are proof Ukraine never was Russia. Their cultures are entirely different. 
 
I commented, “Humanity could learn a lot from Ukraine and Ukrainians on how you keep all of your countrymen and women present today even when they have been lost in this war. It isn't just memory, it is presence, real and current. It is awe inspiring, truly.”
 
As one defender has said, "I hope most countries could adopt the culture of love..." “
&
Edited March 8, 2025
sisters in arms – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/sisters-in-arms-v2.html
written after reading post by defender of Ukraine
about serving as a woman in the army,
for International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025
February 27, 2025
touching bleeding flesh
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-defender.html
(written by a decorated medic on the front lines in Ukraine)
Edited February 26, 2025
touching bleeding flesh – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-v2.html
"The present memory of that day" is both 2/24/2022 for Ukraine and Ukrainians
and 2/14/1991 for me personally. I am using my experience of detailed visceral
images of lifting the blood and brains of my father to give even a touch of
authenticity to this poem, merging my conversation with one defender and
the words of that other defender yesterday to write "touching bleeding flesh "
&
Edited February 26, 2025
The present memory of that day – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-present-memory-of-that-day-v2.html
February 25, 2025
Memory of February 24, 2022
as described by defender of Ukraine 
&
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
Edited January 13, 2025
Sacred Days – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/01/sacred-days-v3.html
Edited December 8, 2024
Stealing his identity – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/stealing-his-identity-v2.html
Edited December 2, 2024
Stealing History – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/stealing-history-v2.html
Edited November 29, 2024
Designs of their culture – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/designs-of-their-culture-v3.html
Edited September 6, 2024
Flying from every flagpole – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/flying-from-every-flagpole-v2.html
Edited May 24, 2024
A cloak of the dead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/a-cloak-of-dead-v2.html
In this poem I am trying to convey that the dead of Ukraine,
your heroes, are cloaking every #warrior, as if with a new
Vyshyvanka, against your skin, under the armor, the
white fabric's embroidery have been woven with threads
of the blood of the fallen, protecting each of you.
They are your shield, your invisible armor.
I tried to write the poem in the sh 

#poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #Pysanky #Vyshyvankaape of a
Ukrainian Easter Egg, a Pysanky.
 
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, Ukraine, defenders, victory, peace, Stand With Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes, culture, identity, unity, love, spirit, legacy, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, Pysanky, Vyshyvanka,
 
#poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #Pysanky #Vyshyvanka
 

Hold each of them closely #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

I see your deep love for each of them,
a part of each one of you, present with you,
gathering your honored dead to you, lovingly,
ever present, today, now, alive, as close as breath…
 
They are part of you, your fabric, your identity,
as lines woven in a vyshyvanka, your culture,
hand to heart, to linen, washed in blood,
in their sacrifice for your country…
 
I see how you honor them, in each moment,
in a continuous procession, rituals of memory,
how you hold them to you, to your hearts, forever,
ever present, today, now, alive, as close as breath…
 
Hold each of them closely, forever, present,
their legacy of love, of sacrifice, a bond sustaining,
the honored dead with you, present, living,
in their sacrifice for your country… 

 
-------
March 25, 2025
Hold each of them closely
 
&
March 24, 2025 posts on X:
“The acts of Ukrainians, like kneeling as a funeral procession passes for fallen defenders or the Moment of Honor every morning at 9:00am, or the photographs on gravestones of those lost in this war, all show how love is part of the Ukrainian culture.  
 
Today, I saw a video of Ukrainians women defenders making Ukrainians Easter eggs with a picture of their fallen comrade, combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh on the table. Iryna’s mother led them in the class, making the eggs.
 
All of these are proof Ukraine never was Russia. Their cultures are entirely different. 
 
I commented, “Humanity could learn a lot from Ukraine and Ukrainians on how you keep all of your countrymen and women present today even when they have been lost in this war. It isn't just memory, it is presence, real and current. It is awe inspiring, truly.”
 
As one defender said about that, "I hope most countries could adopt the culture of love..." “
March 24, 2025
This is the video that speaks to the culture of Ukraine...
https://www.instagram.com/p/DHlbX7MtEjg/
&
Edited March 8, 2025
sisters in arms – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/sisters-in-arms-v2.html
written after reading post by defender of Ukraine
about serving as a woman in the army,
for International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025
February 27, 2025
touching bleeding flesh
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-defender.html
(written by a decorated medic on the front lines in Ukraine)
Edited February 26, 2025
touching bleeding flesh – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-v2.html
"The present memory of that day" is both 2/24/2022 for Ukraine and Ukrainians
and 2/14/1991 for me personally. I am using my experience of detailed visceral
images of lifting the blood and brains of my father to give even a touch of
authenticity to this poem, merging my conversation with one defender and
the words of that other defender yesterday to write "touching bleeding flesh "
&
Edited February 26, 2025
The present memory of that day – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-present-memory-of-that-day-v2.html
February 25, 2025
Memory of February 24, 2022
as described by defender of Ukraine 
&
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
Edited January 13, 2025
Sacred Days – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/01/sacred-days-v3.html
Edited December 8, 2024
Stealing his identity – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/stealing-his-identity-v2.html
Edited December 2, 2024
Stealing History – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/stealing-history-v2.html
Edited November 29, 2024
Designs of their culture – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/designs-of-their-culture-v3.html
Edited September 6, 2024
Flying from every flagpole – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/flying-from-every-flagpole-v2.html
Edited May 24, 2024
A cloak of the dead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/a-cloak-of-dead-v2.html
In this poem I am trying to convey that the dead of Ukraine,
your heroes, are cloaking every #warrior, as if with a new
Vyshyvanka, against your skin, under the armor, the
white fabric's embroidery have been woven with threads
of the blood of the fallen, protecting each of you.
They are your shield, your invisible armor.
I tried to write the poem in the shape of a
Ukrainian Easter Egg, a Pysanky.
 
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, Ukraine, defenders, victory, peace, Stand With Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes, culture, identity, unity, love, spirit, legacy, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, Pysanky, Vyshyvanka,
 
#poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #Pysanky #Vyshyvanka