The fallen go into battle with them
under their body armor
a vyshyvanka, a prayer...
They are protected by their fallen comrades...
Every thread is hand-dyed,
dipped in the defender’s blood...
Unwound from the spool, woven,
creating a protective shield...
Each shirt, invisible, made of pure linen,
the prayer of this people...
The fabric for each pattern –
the truth of their culture...
The memory of the fallen,
a thread in the fabric,
sprinkled with the blood of the defenders...
They guard their hearts...
Every thread is woven with love,
creating a chain-mail embroidered shirt,
clinging to the skin of every defender...
They march with a whispered prayer for life...
-----------
Edited May 20, 2026
protective clothing – v2
Відредаговано 20 травня 2026 року
одяг захисту – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/2.html
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Edited May 20, 2026
a garment of protection – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/a-garment-of-protection-v2.html
May 19, 2026
a garment of protection
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/a-garment-of-protection.html
Edited, May 19, 2026
The Mantle of the Dead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-mantle-of-dead-v2.html
New name, May 19, 2026
The Mantle of the Dead
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-mantle-of-dead_0234711049.html
Edited December 1, 2025
A cloak of the dead – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-cloak-of-dead-v3.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 has 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.
Both are so symbolic of Ukraine, the independent
identity of your culture, just as your unique language and history are.
Edited May 24, 2024
A cloak of the dead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/a-cloak-of-dead-v2.html
The poem is a prayer for Ukraine.
May 23, 2024
A cloak of the dead
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/a-cloak-of-dead.html
Edited May 24, 2024
Lord, watch over these heroes – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/lord-watch-over-these-heroes-v2.html
Edited May 24, 2024
Designs of their culture – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/designs-of-their-culture-v2.html
May 23, 2024
X post by The Angry Cat
“Ukrainians don't die, they go to Valhalla.”
May 23, 2024
Video posted by Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces
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, Pysanky, Vyshyvanka,
Valhalla, protection, armor, Vyshyvanka Day, honor, threads, blood,
#Poetry
#Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #victory #Pysanky #Vyshyvanka
#Valhalla #protection #armor #VyshyvankaDay #honor #threads #blood
under their body armor
a vyshyvanka, a prayer...
They are protected by their fallen comrades...
dipped in the defender’s blood...
Unwound from the spool, woven,
creating a protective shield...
the prayer of this people...
The fabric for each pattern –
the truth of their culture...
a thread in the fabric,
sprinkled with the blood of the defenders...
They guard their hearts...
creating a chain-mail embroidered shirt,
clinging to the skin of every defender...
They march with a whispered prayer for life...
Edited May 20, 2026
protective clothing – v2
одяг захисту – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/2.html
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Edited May 20, 2026
a garment of protection – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/a-garment-of-protection-v2.html
May 19, 2026
a garment of protection
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/a-garment-of-protection.html
Edited, May 19, 2026
The Mantle of the Dead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-mantle-of-dead-v2.html
New name, May 19, 2026
The Mantle of the Dead
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-mantle-of-dead_0234711049.html
Edited December 1, 2025
A cloak of the dead – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-cloak-of-dead-v3.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 has 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.
Both are so symbolic of Ukraine, the independent
identity of your culture, just as your unique language and history are.
Edited May 24, 2024
A cloak of the dead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/a-cloak-of-dead-v2.html
The poem is a prayer for Ukraine.
May 23, 2024
A cloak of the dead
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/a-cloak-of-dead.html
Edited May 24, 2024
Lord, watch over these heroes – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/lord-watch-over-these-heroes-v2.html
Edited May 24, 2024
Designs of their culture – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/designs-of-their-culture-v2.html
May 23, 2024
X post by The Angry Cat
“Ukrainians don't die, they go to Valhalla.”
May 23, 2024
Video posted by Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces
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.

