A phrase too often repeated

parents whispering in the darkness,
trying not to frighten their children,
families huddled wherever they can,
trying to stay safe, whatever that means…
“a long night ahead”,
a phrase too often repeated,
the sounds of missiles, of drones,
of air raid sirens, of defenses firing,
the danger of Russian genocide
ever present with them…
 
a nation in peril, on edge,
words of truth, understatement,
not sleeping in their beds,
sleeping in bomb shelters,
in bathtubs, strong corridors,
“a long night ahead”,
Russia’s rain of terror unending
premeditated murder, mayhem,
the danger or Russian genocide
ever present with them…
 
quiet shattered, too quickly, terror,
listening to whistles of the Shaheds,
missiles sent to destroy them…
more than fatigue, despair gripping,
cameras, bodies shaking, flared nostrils
of the influencers recording their truth,
“a long night ahead”,
Years now of anguish, of nightly genocide,
Screaming into the abyss,
no longer wanting to be brave…
 
---------------
Edited, recast, June 18, 2025
A phrase too often repeated
 
Edited June 17, 2025
a long night ahead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-long-night-ahead_17.html
attack on Kyiv
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
Edited May 30, 2025
Why are we silent – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/why-are-we-silent-v2.html
Edited May 29, 2025
Weakening Russia – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/weakening-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, 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, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, warfare, drones, death, dead, wounded, Russia, Putin, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa,
 
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