a #garment of #protection – v2 #Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #victory #Pysanky #Vyshyvanka #Valhalla #protection #armor #VyshyvankaDay #honor #threads #blood

The dead go into battle with them
under their body armor
a vyshyvanka, a prayer...
They are protected by their fallen...
 
Every thread is hand-colored,
dipped in the blood of a defender...
Pulled from the spool, woven,
creating a hedge of protection...
 
Each shirt, invisible, pure linen,
a prayer of this nation...
A canvas for each design
the truth of their culture...
 
The memory of the fallen,
a thread in the fabric
washed in defenders' blood...
They guard their hearts...
 
Each thread is lovingly woven,
creating a chain mail vyshyvanka,
against the skin of each defender...
They go with a whispered prayer of life...
 
-----------
Edited May 20, 2026
a garment of protection – v2
 
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
Death from the skies – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/death-from-skies-v2.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