Soften His Heart, Lord #poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice #VladimirPutin

Only You, Lord, can change him,
Only you have that power...
Speak into his heart...
Convict his soul...
 
Soften his heart, Lord,
Change him completely,
May he repent of this evil
his great sin...
 
Speak to him, Lord,
as only You can, truly...
May the Holy Spirit
change him within...
 
Open his eyes, Lord,
to see the destruction,
the consequences of his sin,
his evil intent...
 
Convict him, Lord,
as only You are able...
Lead him to repent,
to turn from this sin...
 
----------------
Edited June 12, 2026
Soften His Heart, Lord
 
A prayer to God over Vladimir Putin,
based on a statement of a Ukrainian defender
challenging my other poems...
“... you choose to harden your heart like the Russians,
you would call Mr. Putin all sorts of names,
that's not the life of Christ, Raymond...”
Edited June 6, 2026
His name is Death – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/06/his-name-is-death-v2.html
Translated into English May 25, 2026
The enemy has no idea - translated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-enemy-has-no-idea-translated.html
after massive missile attacks by Russia on Kyiv,
and throughout the 4 years of the war
Edited December 2, 2025
the threat much closer – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-threat-much-closer-v6.html
Edited November 27, 2025
The stain of innocent blood – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v6.html
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, The 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
Edited April 18, 2025
The stain of their blood – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-stain-of-their-blood-v2.html
May 22, 2024
In the crucible of history
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/in-crucible-of-history.html
About President Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський,
and the Ukrainian people
April 1, 2022
The stain of innocent blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-stain-of-innocent-blood.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, 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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, sin, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, prayer, curse, repentance, genocide, Taras Shevchenko, justice, Vladimir Putin,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice #VladimirPutin

#Pray: Soften His #Heart #poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #VladimirPutin #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice

Soften his heart, Lord,
Change him completely,
to repent for this evil
his great sin...
 
Speak to him, Lord,
as only You can...
May the Holy Spirit
change him within...
 
Open his eyes, Lord,
to see the destruction,
the consequences of his lusts,
his evil intent...
 
Convict him, Lord,
as only You are able...
Lead him to repent,
to turn from this sin...
 
----------------
June 11, 2026
Soften His Heart
 
A prayer to God
over Vladimir Putin,
based on a statement of a Ukrainian defender
challenging my other poems...
“... you choose to harden your heart like the Russians,
you would call Mr. Putin all sorts of names,
that's not the life of Christ, Raymond...”
Edited June 6, 2026
His name is Death – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/06/his-name-is-death-v2.html
Translated into English May 25, 2026
The enemy has no idea - translated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-enemy-has-no-idea-translated.html
after massive missile attacks by Russia on Kyiv,
and throughout the 4 years of the war
Edited December 2, 2025
the threat much closer – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-threat-much-closer-v6.html
Edited November 27, 2025
The stain of innocent blood – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v6.html
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, The 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
Edited April 18, 2025
The stain of their blood – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-stain-of-their-blood-v2.html
May 22, 2024
In the crucible of history
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/05/in-crucible-of-history.html
About President Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський,
and the Ukrainian people
April 1, 2022
The stain of innocent blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-stain-of-innocent-blood.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, 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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, sin, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, prayer, curse, repentance, genocide, Taras Shevchenko, justice,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood #curse #prayer #repentance #genocide #terror #TarasShevchenko #justice

The stain of innocent blood – v6 #poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood

May he dream of horror, pain, night terrors,
May he be caught in nightmares forever
for the crimes he is committing,
the war on their neighbors,
on humanity, his own people,
by the stain of innocent blood…
 
He is now the embodiment of pure evil
King of the North, this false Tsar, this Satan,
condemned, no matter how many times
He may seek to wash his hands
He will forever be haunted, cursed,
by the stain of innocent blood…
 
Eternity is not long enough for his torment,
The gates of hell refuse him welcome,
generation on generations, evil incarnated,
controlled everything about him,
nowhere to hide, tormented,
by the stain of innocent blood...
 
May he be cursed, damned forever,
imprisoned in his dreams, his nightmares,
recurring, repeating, screams in the night,
seeing each face, every bloody body,
all those he has tortured, killed, haunted,
by the stain of innocent blood...
-------
Edited November 27, 2025
The stain of innocent blood – v6
 
 
This poem is about the character Pontius Pilate in the novel, The 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
&
Edited/new name August 27, 2024
Streets of their cities run red with blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/08/streets-of-their-cities-run-red-with.html  
April 1, 2022
The stain of innocent blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-stain-of-innocent-blood.html
edited March 19, 2022
Save Ukraine – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/save-ukraine-v2.html
edited March 10, 2022
One shot away – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/one-shot-away-v2.html
edited March 8, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman-v2.html
December 2, 2006 20:02
Washing His Hands
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/12/washing-his-hands.html
Matt 27:1-26; Luke 23:1-25
and The Master and Margarita
http://www.masterandmargarita.eu/en/
by Mikhail Bulgakov
http://www.masterandmargarita.eu/en/01bulgakov/inleiding.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, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. 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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, sin, stain, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood,
 
#poetry #God #love #Christ #Spirit #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #warcrimes #innocentblood
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #US #NATO #terror #genocide #selfdefense #strikethearchers #LetUkraineStrikeBack #Putin #warcriminal #innocentblood

the smile of the #assassin – v5 #Putin

when that moment comes,
getting his final instructions,
the authorization for action,
quietly turning a doorknob,
his dagger at the ready,
within the halls of the Kremlin,
the smile of the assassin,
the grin of the hunt, in motion,
seeking his damned prey
his quarry down the corridor…
 
stealth his watchword,
his training now instinctual,
a mask of privilege, of loyalty,
as no one would suspect,
silently approaching,
the embodiment of evil,
“Vladimir the Illegitimate”,
the final tsar of Russia,
no remorse, no hesitation,
deftly thrusting the knife…
 
twisting the dagger, deeper,
into the bone, the sinew, swiftly,
with purpose, without remorse,
the blade laced with poison,
savoring the moment, smiling,
pausing for reflection, awareness,
Looking into his stunned eyes,
astonishment on his face,
unbelieving, terror, judgement,
that he ever got this close…

 
---------- 
Edited August 1, 2025
the smile of the assassin – v5
 
Edited May 6, 2025
the smile of the assassin – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-smile-of-assassin-v4.html
Edited October 30, 2024
the threat within – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-threat-within-v2.html
Edited October 30, 2024
the drum beats louder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-drum-beats-louder-v2.html
Edited October 2, 2024
the threat much closer – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-threat-much-closer-v5_23.html
&
typed October 15, 2024
September 10, 2024
The stain of innocent blood – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v5.html
Edited September 25, 2024
History will curse him – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/history-will-curse-him-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
His fall will be epic – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/his-fall-will-be-epic-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, 202 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, God, prayer, Russia, collapse, Putin, freedom, coup, coup d état, threat, fear, paranoia, Kremlin, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, innocent blood, assassin,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #Russia #collapse #Putin #freedom #coup #coupdetat #threat #fear #paranoia #Kremlin #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #innocentblood #assassin

the smile of the assassin – v4

when that moment comes,
quietly turning a doorknob,
his dagger at the ready,
within the halls of the Kremlin,
the smile of the assassin,
the grin of the hunt,
seeking his damned prey
his quarry down the corridor…
 
stealth his watchword,
as no one would suspect,
silently approaching,
the embodiment of evil,
Putin the Illegitimate,
the last tsar of Russia,
no remorse, no hesitation,
deftly thrusting the knife…
 
twisting the dagger,
swiftly, with purpose,
the blade laced with poison,
savoring the moment, smiling,
looking into his stunned eyes,
astonishment on his face,
unbelieving, terror, judgement,
that he ever got this close…
 
---------- 
Edited May 6, 2025
the smile of the assassin – v4
 
Edited October 30, 2024
the threat within – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-threat-within-v2.html
Edited October 30, 2024
the drum beats louder – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-drum-beats-louder-v2.html
Edited October 2, 2024
the threat much closer – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-threat-much-closer-v5_23.html
&
typed October 15, 2024
September 10, 2024
The stain of innocent blood – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-stain-of-innocent-blood-v5.html
Edited September 25, 2024
History will curse him – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/history-will-curse-him-v2.html
Edited September 25, 2024
His fall will be epic – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/his-fall-will-be-epic-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, 202 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, God, prayer, Russia, collapse, Putin, freedom, coup, coup d état, threat, fear, paranoia, Kremlin, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, innocent blood, assassin,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #Russia #collapse #Putin #freedom #coup #coupdetat #threat #fear #paranoia #Kremlin #Pilate #Bulgakov #MasterandMargarita #sin #stain #innocentblood #assassin

The stain of their blood – v2 #Ukraine #America

I can see the scene unfolding…
hushed in the praetorium, the palace,
symbolically preparing to absolve himself,
to say our nation is not complicit…
taking off his clean navy blazer
an aide gathering a basin of water,
taking off his golden cufflinks, meticulously
rolling up his starched white sleeves…
 
Two accursed men standing there,
Barabbas and Jesus, different actors,
nation-states, now, in this moment,
in the crucible of terror, of war,
standing in judgement of the Empire,
its Proconsul at the water basin…
 
Dipping his hands in the waters,
a Christian passing judgement, no neutrality,
choosing sides in genocide, in terror,
murmuring a lie, a prayer, a confession,
saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”
giving the crowd Barabbas/Russia,
sending Jesus/Ukraine to the cross,
for our indifference, the sins of all of us…
 
But no amount of water, no words,
will absolve him of the verdict,
history will judge him eternally,
he and his master, his dear leader,
as he steps away from responsibility,
as he sacrifices innocent blood…
 
Two men in the battle, good and evil,
two nation-states in the crucible,
Cain and Abel, evil and innocent victim,
evil chosen for craven expediency,
the attention span of the moment,
washing his hands eternally,
but he will forever bear the stain,
the curse of innocent blood…

-------
Edited April 18, 2025
The stain of their blood – v2
 
April 18, 2025 Good Friday
Statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
as peace talks break down because Russia wants war, not peace,
and America seems to be ready to abandon Ukraine…
&
Edited April 14, 2025
Screaming into the Void – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/screaming-into-void-v3.html
Palm Sunday massacre in Sumy, Ukraine
Edited March 10, 2025
Betrayal – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/betrayal-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
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
April 1, 2022
The stain of innocent blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-stain-of-innocent-blood.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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, sin, stain, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, America, Trump, Rubio, Good Friday, betrayal,
 
#Poetry #God #Christ #Ukraine #US #NATO #terror #genocide #Putin #innocentblood #Trump #Rubio #GoodFriday #betrayal

The stain of their blood

I can see the scene unfolding…
hushed in the praetorium, the palace,
taking off his clean navy blazer
an aide gathering a basin of water,
taking off his golden cufflinks,
rolling up his starched white sleeves…
 
Two accursed men standing there,
Barabbas and Jesus, different actors,
Putin and Zelenskyy, in this moment,
standing in judgement of the Empire,
its Proconsul at the water basin…
 
Dipping his hands in the waters,
murmuring a lie, a prayer, a confession,
saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”
giving the crowd Barabbas/Russia,
sending Jesus/Ukraine to the cross,
for our indifference, the sins of all of us…
 
But no amount of water, no words,
will absolve him of the verdict,
history will judge him eternally,
as he steps away from responsibility,
as he sacrifices innocent blood…
 
Two men in the battle, good and evil,
evil chosen for craven expediency,
the attention span of the moment,
washing his hands eternally,
but he will forever bear the stain,
the curse of innocent blood…
-------
April 18, 2025
The stain of their blood
 
Statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
as peace talks break down because Russia wants war, not peace,
and America seems to be ready to abandon Ukraine…
&
Edited April 14, 2025
Screaming into the Void – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/screaming-into-void-v3.html
Palm Sunday massacre in Sumy, Ukraine
Edited March 10, 2025
Betrayal – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/03/betrayal-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
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
April 1, 2022
The stain of innocent blood
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-stain-of-innocent-blood.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, God, love, Christ, Spirit, Pilate, Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, sin, stain, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, war crimes, innocent blood, America, Trump, Rubio, Good Friday, betrayal,
 
#Poetry #God #Christ #Ukraine #US #NATO #terror #genocide #Putin #innocentblood #Trump #Rubio #GoodFriday #betrayal #HolyWeek

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