My #books on #Amazon.com. #books #kindle #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history #grave #Kobzar #AfterTaras #TwelveYearsofWar

All 4 of my books in support of Ukraine have at least one copy sold! All 4 on October 5th! 

Thank you to anyone who has bought them on Amazon.com. 

If you like the poems I have posted on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or on my Poetry Where You Live blog, please consider supporting my four years of work by buying one of these books. They are all available in paperback and Kindle E-book formats. 

My two earlier books of poetry, Poetry Where You Live and Getting Started, are also available on Amazon.com.

Якщо моя поезія є для вас благословенням, я кажу: «Слава Богу!», бо саме Він подарував мені ці слова.

If my poetry is a blessing to you, I say, "Praise God!", because it was He who gifted these words to me.

#poetry #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava #TarasShevchenko #Freedom #Independence #Unity

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. All of my poems are at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

#Identity before #Sovereignty – v2 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #freedom #independence #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava

They honor their forefathers,
their mother within culture,
They are the parents
of Ukraine’s nation-state...
 
They are honored on their currency,
their poets and their conscience,
Identity before sovereignty
for Ukraine’s nation-state...
 
They are not generals or presidents,
but leaders of culture,
Their words shine their identity
before Ukraine’s nation-state...
 
They are not Kozaks or Hetman -
they have been replaced by coinage -
but parents of their spirit,
Identity before sovereignty,
What it means to be Ukraine...
 
--------
Edited October 5, 2026
Identity before Sovereignty – v2
October 2, 2026
Identity before Sovereignty
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/10/identity-before-sovereignty.html 
https://bank.gov.ua/en/uah
Faces on the Ukrainian hryvnia
(Lower denominations replaced by coins)
₴20: Ivan Franko (Writer, poet, and political activist)
₴50: Mykhailo Hrushevsky (Historian and political leader)
₴100: Taras Shevchenko (Poet, artist, and national icon)
₴200: Lesya Ukrainka (Poet and writer)
₴500: Hryhorii Skovoroda (Philosopher and poet)
₴1,000: Volodymyr Vernadsky (Scientist and philosopher)
₴2,000: Vasyl Stus (Dissident poet)
Edited September 27, 2026
They will rise – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/they-will-rise-v2.html
after Twelve Years of War
December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/.../russia-must-be...
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 September 27, 2026
They will rise – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/they-will-rise-v2.html
after Twelve Years of War
Edited September 19, 2026
Each night he flies – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/each-night-he-flies-v3.html
Taras Shevchenko, from his grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, above the Dnipro
December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/.../russia-must-be...
December 27, 2024
Hybrid War
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/hybrid-war.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, 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, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, victory, Taras Shevchenko, freedom, independence, history, glory
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #freedom #independence #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava

#Identity before #Sovereignty #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #IvanFranko #LesyaUkraina #VasylStus #HryhoriiSkovoroda #freedom #independence #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava

Honoring their forefathers,
their mother within culture,
Seeing them as parents
of Ukraine’s nation-state...
 
Honored on their currency,
their poets and their conscience,
Identity before sovereignty
for Ukraine’s nation-state...
 
Not generals or presidents,
but leaders of culture,
Words that shine their identity
before Ukraine’s nation-state...
 
Not Kozaks or Hetman
(they have been replaced),
but parents of their spirit,
Identity before sovereignty,
What it means to be Ukraine...
 
--------
October 2, 2026
Identity before Sovereignty
 
https://bank.gov.ua/en/uah
Faces on the Ukrainian hryvnia
(Lower denominations replaced by coins)
₴20: Ivan Franko (Writer, poet, and political activist)
₴50: Mykhailo Hrushevsky (Historian and political leader)
₴100: Taras Shevchenko (Poet, artist, and national icon)
₴200: Lesya Ukrainka (Poet and writer)
₴500: Hryhorii Skovoroda (Philosopher and poet)
₴1,000: Volodymyr Vernadsky (Scientist and philosopher)
₴2,000: Vasyl Stus (Dissident poet)
Edited September 27, 2026
They will rise – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/they-will-rise-v2.html
after Twelve Years of War
December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/.../russia-must-be...
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, 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, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, victory, Taras Shevchenko, freedom, independence, history, glory
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #IvanFranko #LesyaUkraina #VasylStus #HryhoriiSkovoroda #freedom #independence #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava

They will rise – v2 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #freedom #independence #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava

They will rise...
Ukraine will rise
from the rubble
the anger of Moscow
They will rise
from the terror
the attack of Russia
from the struggle,
Yes, they will rise...
 
They will rise
as one people
united together
united as one body
They will rise
From this time
of struggle, of terror,
as one people, united...
They will rise...
Yes, Ukraine will rise...
 
--------
Edited September 27, 2026
They will rise – v2
 
after Twelve Years of War
September 20, 2026
They will rise
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/they-will-rise.html
Edited September 19, 2026
Each night he flies – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/each-night-he-flies-v3.html
Taras Shevchenko, from his grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, above the Dnipro
December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/.../russia-must-be...
December 27, 2024
Hybrid War
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/hybrid-war.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 4, 2024
There is but one fight – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/there-is-but-one-fight-v2.html
Edited December 3, 2024
They fight the very same Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/they-fight-very-same-evil-v2.html
November 24, 2024
So incredibly sad that Ukraine is fighting the same terror and genocide today, that caused the Holodomor, the same Evil of Russia, and the world believes Russia can ever be negotiated with... Russia must be defeated.
Edited November 11, 2024
Attrition – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/attrition-v3.html
Edited and posted October 17, 2024
In this moment of madness – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/in-this-moment-of-madness-v2_27.html
Edited and posted October 17, 2024
A death sentence – 2 – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/a-death-sentence-2-v2_26.html
Written and posted October 12, 2024
In the crucible of war – 2 – v1
Typed October 17, 2024
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/in-crucible-of-war-2-v1_25.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, 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, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, victory, Taras Shevchenko, freedom, independence, history, glory
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #freedom #independence #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava

If I could see what Taras sees – v2 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history #grave #Kobzar #fly

oh, if I could take flight with him
rising from his eternal slumber
soaring above the Dnipro –
His beloved Ukraine...
 
if I could see what Taras sees
I would know the glory,
the unity of his people –
Together, they fight to be free...
 
we can see more clearly
through the eyes of Shevchenko,
the noble cause they fight for –
The freedom of Ukraine...
 
oh, if I could fly beside Taras
I would see his face, shining,
full of pride in his people –
His beloved Ukraine...
 
--------  
Edited September 27, 2026
If I could see what Taras sees – v2
 
September 23, 2026
If I could see what Taras sees
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/if-i-could-see-what-taras-sees.html
September 20, 2026
They will rise
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/they-will-rise.html
after seeing the draft cover of Volume 1
of Twelve Years of War
Edited September 19, 2026
Each night he flies – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/each-night-he-flies-v3.html
Taras Shevchenko, from his grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, above the Dnipro
Edited September 10, 2026
The soul of the poet – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-soul-of-poet-v2.html
Edited October 6, 2025
From the heights, he watches – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/from-heights-he-watches-v2.html
Edited October 6, 2025
High upon a mountain – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/high-upon-mountain-v5.html
Edited October 6, 2025
The spell has been broken – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-spell-has-been-broken-v5.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, 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, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, peace, victory, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, freedom, independence, history, glory, muse, prison, grave, Kobzar, fly
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history #grave #Kobzar #fly

We choose not to die – v2 #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #freedom #independence #Ukraine #NATO #UnitedNations #UN #UNGA #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava #Zelenskyy #Oleshky #Holodomor

 
Words of resolve, of unity,
their leader speaking
on the world stage;
We choose not to die,
to surrender to terror...
 
We fight for our freedom,
our right to exist...
We will not submit
to subjugation –
We will stand and fight...
 
We will fight Moskal’s army
with resolve and innovation
We know the cost of submission
the pain of oppression...
 
We will stand for Ukraine
in the breach together,
We will fight for our homeland
for Ukraine forever...
 
--------
Edited September 26, 2026
We choose not to die – v2
 
Speech of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
before the United Nations General Assembly
https://gadebate.un.org/en/81/ukraine
September 24, 2026
We choose not to die
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/we-choose-not-to-die.html
September 20, 2026
They will rise
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/they-will-rise.html
after Twelve Years of War
Edited September 19, 2026
Each night he flies – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/each-night-he-flies-v3.html
Taras Shevchenko, from his grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, above the Dnipro
December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/.../russia-must-be...
December 27, 2024
Hybrid War
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/hybrid-war.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 4, 2024
There is but one fight – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/there-is-but-one-fight-v2.html
Edited December 3, 2024
They fight the very same Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/they-fight-very-same-evil-v2.html
Edited November 11, 2024
Attrition – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/attrition-v3.html
Edited and posted October 17, 2024
In this moment of madness – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/in-this-moment-of-madness-v2_27.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, 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, God, prayer, war, genocide, Russia, peace, victory, freedom, independence, history, Zelenskyy, NATO, United Nations, European Union, UN, UNGA, Oleshky, Holodomor
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #freedom #independence #Ukraine #NATO #UnitedNations #UN #UNGA #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava #Zelenskyy #Oleshky #Holodomor

We choose not to die #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #freedom #independence #Ukraine #NATO #UnitedNations #UN #UNGA #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava #Zelenskyy #EU

Words of resolve, of unity,
their leader speaking
on the world stage;
We choose not to die,
to surrender to terror...
 
We fight for our freedom,
our right to exist...
We will not submit
to subjugation –
We will stand and fight...
 
--------
September 24, 2026
We choose not to die
 
Speech of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
before the United Nations General Assembly
https://gadebate.un.org/en/81/ukraine
September 20, 2026
They will rise
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/they-will-rise.html
after Twelve Years of War
Edited September 19, 2026
Each night he flies – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/each-night-he-flies-v3.html
Taras Shevchenko, from his grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, above the Dnipro
December 27, 2024
Russia must be defeated
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/.../russia-must-be...
December 27, 2024
Hybrid War
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/hybrid-war.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 4, 2024
There is but one fight – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/there-is-but-one-fight-v2.html
Edited December 3, 2024
They fight the very same Evil – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/they-fight-very-same-evil-v2.html
Edited November 11, 2024
Attrition – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/attrition-v3.html
Edited and posted October 17, 2024
In this moment of madness – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/in-this-moment-of-madness-v2_27.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, 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, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, Russia, peace, victory, freedom, independence, history, Zelenskyy, NATO, United Nations, European Union, UN, UNGA,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #freedom #independence #Ukraine #NATO #UnitedNations #UN #UNGA #SlavaUkraini #HeroyamSlava #Zelenskyy

Note: September 24, 2026 10:14pm

There were a series of comments on my Facebook post of the hand-written original version of this poem that it was actually written by President Zelenskyy.

I performed a Google search of the following:

This was the response:

"These are results for "How close is this language to the speech of President Zelensky at the United Nation's General Assembly? We choose not to die Words of resolve, of unity, their leader speaking on the world stage; We choose not to die, to surrender to terror... We fight for our freedom, our right to exist... We will not submit to subjugation – We will stand and fight..."

Show original results

AI Overview

The provided text heavily mirrors the real theme and specific key phrasing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2026.

While your text is structured as a poem or rhythmic interpretation rather than a word-for-word transcript, it accurately captures his exact core message. Here is how the lines stack up against his actual speech:

"We choose not to die": This is an exact quote. Zelenskyy prominently stated, "But Ukrainians did not choose this war. We choose not to die, not to lose our country, our families, not to lose our independence, our freedom, and we are defending ourselves."
"To surrender to terror... We fight for our freedom... We will not submit to subjugation": These capture the exact sentiment of his speech. In his address, he defended Ukraine's wartime actions, noted that Ukraine has no choice but to protect itself, and labeled Vladimir Putin as "Patient Zero" for spreading aggression, warning that the world will become unsafe if Russia is allowed to subjugate Ukraine.

Summary: Your text is a highly accurate thematic representation that incorporates Zelenskyy's literal, defining soundbite ("We choose not to die") from his 2026 UNGA speech."

If I could see what Taras sees #poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history #grave #Kobzar #fly

oh, to take flight with him

rising from his eternal slumber
to soar above the Dnipro –
His beloved Ukraine...
 
if I could see what Taras sees
I would know the honor,
the unity of his people –
Their fight to be free...
 
we can see more clearly
through the eyes of Shevchenko,
the noble cause they fight for –
The freedom of Ukraine...
 
oh, if I could fly beside Taras
I would see his face,
full of pride in his people –
His beloved Ukraine...
 
--------  
September 23, 2026
If I could see what Taras sees
 
September 20, 2026
They will rise
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/they-will-rise.html
after seeing the draft cover of Volume 1
of Twelve Years of War
Edited September 19, 2026
Each night he flies – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/each-night-he-flies-v3.html
Taras Shevchenko, from his grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, above the Dnipro
Edited September 10, 2026
The soul of the poet – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-soul-of-poet-v2.html
Edited October 6, 2025
From the heights, he watches – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/from-heights-he-watches-v2.html
Edited October 6, 2025
High upon a mountain – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/high-upon-mountain-v5.html
Edited October 6, 2025
The spell has been broken – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-spell-has-been-broken-v5.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, 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, God, prayer, war, terror, genocide, peace, victory, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, freedom, independence, history, glory, muse, prison, grave, Kobzar, fly
 
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #war #terror #genocide #Russia #peace #victory #TarasShevchenko #Taras #Shevchenko #muse #Ukrainian #glory #serfdom #prison #freedom #independence #history #grave #Kobzar #fly