the dust of Pokrovsk #Poetry #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #ArmUkraine #Bucha #Irpin #Isium #Mariupol #terror #genocide #toretsk #Vuhledar #Rubizhne #Bakhmut #Avdiivka #ChasivYar #Soledar #Kherson #Kyiv #Odesa #BuchaMassacre #BuchaGenocide #Vovchansk #Pokrovsk

the dust of Pokrovsk
the dust of Aleppo
the choice of the world
to remain silent...
 
far too many cities
reduced to ash and rubble
when indifference is inaction
when we could act...
 
complacency is complicity,
an immoral choice
failing to stand with them
in the breach, in the gap...
 
history will be written
in the dust, in the black soil,
when our indifference was inaction
when we could have stood with them
the brave people of Ukraine...
 
===================
August 10, 2026
the dust of Pokrovsk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ijaP2XsPSc
Edited October 27, 2025
Only rubble – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/10/only-rubble-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
Day of the Ukrainian Land Forces
April 4, 2022
The blood of the dead in Bucha
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha.html
Edited November 19, 2023
Crying for Crimea, for Ukraine – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/11/crying-for-crimea-for-ukraine-v2_19.html
Edited March 31, 2024
Ukraine must Win – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/ukraine-must-win-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, 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, country, people, Slava Ukraini, US, NATO, EU, proxy, Arm Ukraine Now, Bucha, Irpin, Izium, Mariupol, terror, genocide, Pokrovsk, Aleppo,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #ArmUkraine #Bucha #Irpin #Isium #Mariupol #terror #genocide #toretsk #Vuhledar #Rubizhne #Bakhmut #Avdiivka #ChasivYar #Soledar #Kherson #Kyiv #Odesa #BuchaMassacre #BuchaGenocide #Vovchansk #Pokrovsk

#Ukraine must #Win – v7 #Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #LetUkraineWin #terror #genocide #StandWithUkraine

We are at another inflection point,
another turn of the dial, the ratchet,
The level of horror has risen, closer,
too many major cities as targets,
of terror, of Russia’s genocide…
The one essential truth that matters,
is that Ukraine must win…
 
Language is important in this fight,
words and prayers, self-defeating,
partners must not be so stilted…
In this moment, this struggle,
The goal must be victory,
In the war that is raging,
Ukraine must win…
 
The West seems more than happy,
to let Russia become degraded,
to destroy military assets,
to kill more of their people,
to arm Ukraine not to fail,
to bleed in their struggle…
But Ukraine must win…
 
What would this war look like?
What arms would the West offer?
If their goal was Ukraine’s victory,
That Ukraine must win,
defeat Russia now, today,
in the way we would fight,
to end the awful slaughter…
 
Ukraine must win, more than just maintaining,
In the battles they are now facing, the fronts,
Twelve years is more than enough, too much,
exhausted, broken, but resolute…
Under the boot of imperial terror
more than a proxy, our ally,
Ukraine must win, today…
 
The United States, the West, NATO,
must support Ukraine in its mission,
not fearing escalation, but remembering,
Bucha, Mariupol, Irpin, Kharkiv, Kherson, so many places…
So close to the border, to chaos, the missiles,
wherever Russia is unleashing terror,
Yes, Ukraine must win… starting today…
 
----------
Edited June 25, 2026
Ukraine must win – v7
 
 
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 my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, Ukraine, victory, hope, courage, heroes, country, people, Slava Ukraini, US, NATO, EU, proxy, Let Ukraine Win, Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, terror, genocide,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #LetUkraineWin #terror #genocide #StandWithUkraine

#Ukraine must #Win – v6 #Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #LetUkraineWin #terror #genocide #StandWithUkraine

We are at another inflection point,
another turn of the dial, the ratchet,
The level of horror has risen, closer,
too many major cities as targets,
of terror, of Russia’s genocide…
The one essential truth that matters,
is that Ukraine must win…
 
Language is important in this fight,
words and prayers, self-defeating,
partners must not be so stilted…
In this moment, this struggle,
The goal must be victory,
In the war that is raging,
Ukraine must win…
 
The West seems more than happy,
to let Russia become degraded,
to destroy military assets,
to kill more of their people,
to arm Ukraine not to fail,
to bleed in their struggle…
But Ukraine must win…
 
What would this war look like?
What arms would the West offer?
If their goal was Ukraine’s victory,
That Ukraine must win,
defeat Russia now, today,
in the way we would fight,
to end the awful slaughter…
 
Ukraine must win, more than just maintaining,
In the battles they are now facing, the fronts,
Eleven years is more than enough, too much,
exhausted, broken, but resolute…
Under the boot of imperial terror
more than a proxy, our ally,
Ukraine must win, today…
 
The United States, the West, NATO,
must support Ukraine in its mission,
not fearing escalation, but remembering,
Bucha, Mariupol, Irpin, Kharkiv, Kherson, so many places…
So close to the border, to chaos, the missiles,
wherever Russia is unleashing terror,
Yes, Ukraine must win… starting today…
 
----------
Edited December 2, 2025
Ukraine must win – v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/ukraine-must-win-v6.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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, country, people, Slava Ukraini, US, NATO, EU, proxy, Let Ukraine Win, Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, terror, genocide,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #LetUkraineWin #terror #genocide #StandWithUkraine

Ukraine cannot wait – v5 #Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #country #people #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #proxy #ArmUkraineNow #Bucha #Mariupol #Kharkiv #Odesa #Kyiv #terror #genocide #victory

Too long forgotten, silent,
no debates in Congress,
defying our pledge, in Budapest,
our sacred promise to them…
Doing Terror’s bidding, silent,
letting them die, in horror,
in their homes, in the streets,
as if neutrality was an option…
 
Ukraine cannot wait,
for action, perfect legislation,
for solidarity with them…
They need our help now, today,
tomorrow, before it is too late,
before the tanks roll, closer,
before the missiles land,
in the center, at their feet…
 
This prayer is ever more urgent
with each passing day, each year,
under the threat of terror,
the same enemy for centuries
bent on conquest, on empire,
stealing the history of these people
wanting to erase, to subjugate
their sovereign land…
 
-----------
Edited December 1, 2025
Ukraine cannot wait – v5
 
Edited November 29, 2024
Ukraine cannot wait – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/ukraine-cannot-wait-v4.html
Edited April 22, 2024
Ukraine cannot wait – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/04/ukraine-cannot-wait-v3.html
April 4, 2024
a proxy bleeding
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/04/a-proxy-bleeding.html
Edited April 2, 2024
Ukraine must win – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/04/ukraine-must-win-v3.html
Edited March 31, 2024
The blood of the dead of Bucha – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha-v4.html
March 19, 2024
Statement by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3710899/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-20th-ukraine/
at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting:
“The United States will not let Ukraine fail.
This coalition will not let Ukraine fail, and
the free world will not let Ukraine fail,”
Neither “win” or “victory” were in Austin’s opening remarks…
Edited November 19, 2023
Crying for Crimea, for Ukraine – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/11/crying-for-crimea-for-ukraine-v2_19.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 my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, Ukraine, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, EU, proxy, Bucha, Mariupol, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kyiv, terror, genocide, victory,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #country #people #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #proxy #ArmUkraineNow #Bucha #Mariupol #Kharkiv #Odesa #Kyiv #terror #genocide #victory

The blood of the dead in Bucha – v7 #Poetry #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #ArmUkraine #Bucha #Irpin #Isium #Mariupol #terror #genocide #toretsk #Vuhledar #Rubizhne #Bakhmut #Avdiivka #ChasivYar #Soledar #Kherson #Kyiv #Odesa #BuchaMassacre #BuchaGenocide

The blood of the dead in Bucha,
Irpin, Izyum, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kherson,
Kyiv, too many places to name,
like the brother of Cain, Abel…
Their blood is crying out from the soil,
for judgment, for justice, for victory…
 
“Never again”, we told them, a promise,
to the survivors, those who remember,
Never would genocide happen in Europe,
never again would evil be in control…
Yet while we debate in the halls of power,
The Tyrant and his army exact an awful toll…
 
The blood of the dead in Bucha,
Irpin, Izyum, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Kherson,
Kyiv, too many places to number…
other towns and cities ravaged,
shaking the conscience of humanity,
the European continent, the world beyond…
 
“Never again”, we told them, a promise,
We would never forget the slaughter,
But history is being repeated, again,
Humanity shackled, hamstrung, silent,
unwilling or unable to stop the genocide…
atrocities in Ukraine, on its people,
Russia’s terror upon this nation-state…
 
===================
Edited December 1, 2025
The blood of the dead in Bucha – v7
 
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
Day of the Ukrainian Land Forces
Edited November 29, 2024
The blood of the dead of Bucha – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha-v5.html
Edited March 31, 2024
The blood of the dead of Bucha – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha-v4.html
Edited November 19, 2023
The blood of the dead in Bucha – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha-v3.html
Edited November 19, 2023
Crying for Crimea, for Ukraine – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/11/crying-for-crimea-for-ukraine-v2_19.html
Edited March 31, 2024
Ukraine must Win – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/ukraine-must-win-v2.html
March 19, 2024
Ukraine must Win
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/ukraine-must-win.html
March 19, 2024
Statement by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3710899/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-20th-ukraine/
at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Germany
“The United States will not let Ukraine fail.
This coalition will not let Ukraine fail, and
the free world will not let Ukraine fail,”
Neither the word “win” nor the word “victory”
Is included in Austin’s opening remarks…
 
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 my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, Ukraine, victory, hope, courage, heroes, country, people, Slava Ukraini, US, NATO, EU, proxy, Arm Ukraine Now, Bucha, Irpin, Izium, Mariupol, terror, genocide,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #ArmUkraine #Bucha #Irpin #Isium #Mariupol #terror #genocide #toretsk #Vuhledar #Rubizhne #Bakhmut #Avdiivka #ChasivYar #Soledar #Kherson #Kyiv #Odesa #BuchaMassacre #BuchaGenocide

Only rubble – v2 #Poetry #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #ArmUkraine #Bucha #Irpin #Isium #Mariupol #terror #genocide #toretsk #Vuhledar #Rubizhne #Bakhmut #Avdiivka #ChasivYar #Soledar #Kherson #Kyiv #Odesa #BuchaMassacre #BuchaGenocide

A pyrrhic victory,
A war of attrition,
A wasteland their prize…
The blood of the dead of Bucha,
of Kherson, of Pokrovsk, of Mariupol,
of Izium, of Irpin, of Odesa, of Kharkiv,
all the ancient cities they have destroyed…
 
A barren moonscape,
An empty land, no longer alive,
A people driven out, abandoned…
The wreckage of their terror, carnage,
of Rubizhne, of Vuhledar, of Chasiv Yar,
the heritage, the innocents, the buildings,
too many places to number, their awful prize…
 
A testament to their savagery,
A witness to our utter abject failure,
An accounting, “Never Again” is now…
The pyre of their dead in the fields, underfoot,
left to rot, abandoned in the black soil,
to feed sunflowers, growing, like phoenix,
to heal the land in time, once peace comes…
 
A place of death and ashes,
A wasteland that they created,
A testament to their depravity, cruelty,
their lust for lost empire, using genocide;
But this will not be the final verdict, victory
will rise over the Donbas, like a sunrise shining
over the people, the whole of Ukraine will be Ukraine…

 
===================
Edited October 27, 2025
Only rubble – v2
 
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
Day of the Ukrainian Land Forces
April 4, 2022
The blood of the dead in Bucha
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha.html
Edited November 19, 2023
Crying for Crimea, for Ukraine – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/11/crying-for-crimea-for-ukraine-v2_19.html
Edited March 31, 2024
Ukraine must Win – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/ukraine-must-win-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, 2021, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, country, people, Slava Ukraini, US, NATO, EU, proxy, Arm Ukraine Now, Bucha, Irpin, Izium, Mariupol, terror, genocide,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #ArmUkraine #Bucha #Irpin #Isium #Mariupol #terror #genocide #toretsk #Vuhledar #Rubizhne #Bakhmut #Avdiivka #ChasivYar #Soledar #Kherson #Kyiv #Odesa #BuchaMassacre #BuchaGenocide

Only rubble #Poetry #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #ArmUkraine #Bucha #Irpin #Isium #Mariupol #terror #genocide #toretsk #Vuhledar #Rubizhne #Bakhmut #Avdiivka #ChasivYar #Soledar #Kherson #Kyiv #Odesa #BuchaMassacre #BuchaGenocide

A pyrrhic victory,
A war of attrition,
A wasteland their prize…
The blood of the dead of Bucha,
of Kherson, of Pokrovsk, of Mariupol,
all the ancient cities they have destroyed…
 
A barren moonscape,
An empty land, no longer life,
A people driven out, abandoned…
The wreckage of their terror, carnage,
of Rubizhne, of Vuhledar, of Chasiv Yar,
too many places to number, their awful prize…
 
A testament to savagery,
A witness to our abject failure,
An accounting, “Never Again” is now…
The pyre of their dead in the fields, lost,
left to rot, to feed the sunflowers, growing,
to heal the land in time, once peace comes…
 
A place of death and ashes,
A wasteland that they created,
A testament to their depravity, cruelty,
but this will not be the final verdict, victory
will rise over the Donbas, like a sunrise shining
over the people, the whole of Ukraine will be Ukraine…

 
===================
October 27, 2025
Only rubble
 
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
Edited November 19, 2023
Crying for Crimea, for Ukraine – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/11/crying-for-crimea-for-ukraine-v2_19.html
Edited March 31, 2024
Ukraine must Win – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/ukraine-must-win-v2.html
March 19, 2024
Ukraine must Win
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/ukraine-must-win.html
March 19, 2024
Statement by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3710899/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-20th-ukraine/
at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Germany
“The United States will not let Ukraine fail.
This coalition will not let Ukraine fail, and
the free world will not let Ukraine fail,”
&
Neither the word “win” nor the word “victory”
Is included in Austin’s opening remarks…
 
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, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, country, people, Slava Ukraini, US, NATO, EU, proxy, Arm Ukraine Now, Bucha, Irpin, Izium, Mariupol, terror, genocide,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #ArmUkraine #Bucha #Irpin #Isium #Mariupol #terror #genocide #toretsk #Vuhledar #Rubizhne #Bakhmut #Avdiivka #ChasivYar #Soledar #Kherson #Kyiv #Odesa #BuchaMassacre #BuchaGenocide

Why are we silent – v2

Why are we silent in the face of their evil
while their attacks have become more brutal
killing the innocents, now martyrs,
why don’t we act to stop their genocide?
how can we allow this terror to continue,
don’t we understand we are complicit,
that we have joined the monster, the madman,
we are covered in innocent blood?
 
The whole world is watching while with dither
talking when we should be acting, resolute,
while we fail to act, moment by moment,
year upon year, too many dead to count,
so many innocent lives cut short, destroyed,
too many lives torn apart, shattered in terror,
all for fear of escalation, appeasement, complicity,
too many hopes buried in that ground…
 
How can we remain silent before genocide
have we learned nothing from history,
the costs of being silent, complicit, forgetting
there is no neutrality, we have chosen murder
we have wantonly sided with their evil
failing to act is agreement with terror,
leaving them to defend themselves alone,
when we promised to come to their aid?
 
---------------
Edited May 30, 2025
Why are we silent – v2
 
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, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, defenders, support, proxy,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #genocide #StandWithUkraine #Defenders #support #proxy

Why are we silent

Why are we silent in the face of their evil
why don’t we act to stop their genocide?
how can we allow this terror to continue,
don’t we understand we are complicit,
we are covered in innocent blood?
 
The whole is watching while with dither
while we fail to act, moment by moment,
year upon year, too many dead to count,
so many innocent lives cut short, destroyed,
too many lives torn apart, shattered in terror,
all for fear of escalation, appeasement, complicity,
too many hopes buried in that ground…
 
How can we remain silent before genocide
there is no neutrality, we have chosen murder
failing to act is agreement with terror,
leaving them to defend themselves alone,
when we promised to come to their aid?
 
---------------
May 29, 2025
Why are we silent
 
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, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, defenders, support, proxy,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #genocide #StandWithUkraine #Defenders #support #proxy

Weakening Russia – v3

For far too long we have only been weakening Russia
never wanting to defeat it, only sapping it of its power
the tools of war, of terror, their men, missiles and tanks,
depleting their ability to commit more genocide in Ukraine…
 
We have only given so much aid, just enough to slow them,
to those fighting evil, those on the frontlines, in trenches,
only giving Ukraine that much and no more, a proxy state,
only to weaken Russia, to make their losses greater…
 
What would have happened, how would these years
have been different if the allies were not so timid,
what would have happened if they saw Ukraine
as an ally, if they sought Russia’s defeat…
 
How many lives would’ve been saved
from the slaughter, Russian terror,
if genocide was met with force
to stop them from beginning…
 
It is not too late to change,
lives are still in balance;
the crucible of war yet
can be quenched…
 
We must have the will
to defeat evil, terror,
we must Stand with Ukraine
in this critical hour…
 
---------------
Edited May 29, 2025
Weakening Russia – v3
 
 
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, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, defenders, support, proxy,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #genocide #StandWithUkraine #Defenders #support #proxy

Weakening Russia – v2

Weakening Russia
sapping it of its power
the tools of war, terror,
of their genocide in Ukraine…
 
Only so much aid
to those fighting evil
only to weaken Russia
that much and no more…
 
What would have happened
if the allies were not timid,
what would have happened
if they sought Russia’s defeat…
 
How many lives would’ve been saved
from the slaughter, Russian terror,
if genocide was met with force
to stop them from beginning…
 
It is not too late to change,
lives are still in the balance,
the crucible of war yet
can be quenched…
 
We must just have the will
to defeat their evil, their terror,
we must stand with Ukraine
in this critical hour…
 
---------------
Edited May 28, 2025
Weakening Russia – v2
 
 
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, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, defenders, support, proxy,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #genocide #StandWithUkraine #Defenders #support #proxy

Weakening Russia

Weakening Russia
sapping it of power
the tools of war,
of their genocide…
 
Only so much aid
to those fighting evil
only to weaken Russia
that much and no more…
 
What would have happened
if the allies were not timid
what would have happened
if their sought their defeat…
 
How many lives would’ve been saved
from the slaughter, Russian terror,
if genocide was met with force
to stop them at the beginning…
 
It is not too late to change,
lives are still in the balance,
the crucible of war yet
can be quenched…
 
We must just have the will
to defeat their evil
we must stand with Ukraine
in this critical hour…
 
---------------
May 28, 2025
Weakening Russia
 
 
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, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, US, NATO, EU, terror, America, genocide, Stand With Ukraine, defenders, support, proxy,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #US #NATO #EU #terror #America #genocide #StandWithUkraine #Defenders #support #proxy

Equipoise – v2

Ukraine needs momentum, progress,
recommitment of their allies, together,
a groundswell, a breaking of inertia,
something to overwhelm attrition,
the slow grinding of the earth, danger,
needing a breaking of the enemy, sanctions,
a chink in their armor, more evident,
to see their hope fully justified,
a way to victory, to peace…
 
Equipoise, waiting, stuck by delay,
lies of the enemy, playing allies, evil,
seeking to distract from their terror,
the genocide they are committing,
to freeze the hands of these people,
fighting to defend, to survive, allies
bowing to demands of tyrants,
no longer pawns, proxies, victims,
but conquering heroes in this fight…
 
----------
Edited April 4, 2025
Equipoise – v2
 
Edited December 23, 2024
Ukraine must win – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/ukraine-must-win-v5.html
February 28, 2025
Gathering a War Council
Photograph of President Zelenskyy with leaders of Nordic
and Baltic nations on February 24, 2025 in Kyiv
on the 3^rd anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion
February 27, 2025
touching bleeding flesh
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-defender.html
(written by a medic on the front lines in Ukraine)
Edited February 26, 2025
touching bleeding flesh – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-v2.html
"The present memory of that day" is both 2/24/2022 for Ukraine and Ukrainians
and 2/14/1991 for me personally. I am using my experience of detailed visceral
images of lifting the blood and brains of my father to give even a touch of
authenticity to this poem, merging my conversation with one defender and
the words of that other defender yesterday to write "touching bleeding flesh "
&
Edited February 26, 2025
The present memory of that day – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-present-memory-of-that-day-v2.html
February 25, 2025
Memory of February 24, 2022
as described by defender of Ukraine 
&
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-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, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, country, people, Slava Ukraini, US, NATO, EU, proxy, Let Ukraine Win, Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, terror, genocide,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #LetUkraineWin #terror #genocide #StandWithUkraine

Equipoise

Ukraine needs momentum,
recommitment of their allies,
a groundswell, a breaking of inertia,
something to overwhelm attrition,
the slow grinding of the earth,
to see a break in the enemy, sanctions,
a chink in their armor, more evident,
to see their hope fully justified,
to see a way to victory, to peace…
 
Equipoise, waiting, stuck by delay,
lies of the enemy, playing allies, evil,
seeking to distract from their terror,
the genocide they are committing,
to freeze the hands of these people,
fighting to defend, to survive,
bowing to demands of evil, tyrants,
no longer pawns, proxies, victims,
but conquering heroes in this fight…
 
----------
April 2, 2025
Equipoise
 
Edited December 23, 2024
Ukraine must win – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/12/ukraine-must-win-v5.html
February 28, 2025
Gathering a War Council
Photograph of President Zelenskyy with leaders of Nordic
and Baltic nations on February 24, 2025 in Kyiv
on the 3^rd anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion
February 27, 2025
touching bleeding flesh
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-defender.html
(written by a medic on the front lines in Ukraine)
Edited February 26, 2025
touching bleeding flesh – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-v2.html
"The present memory of that day" is both 2/24/2022 for Ukraine and Ukrainians
and 2/14/1991 for me personally. I am using my experience of detailed visceral
images of lifting the blood and brains of my father to give even a touch of
authenticity to this poem, merging my conversation with one defender and
the words of that other defender yesterday to write "touching bleeding flesh "
&
Edited February 26, 2025
The present memory of that day – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-present-memory-of-that-day-v2.html
February 25, 2025
Memory of February 24, 2022
as described by defender of Ukraine 
&
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
&
Edited September 4, 2024
Ukraine must win – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/ukraine-must-win-v4.html
April 2, 2024
My response: "Ukraine winning this war, defeating
the imperial terror is Russia" is a key precondition to
lasting sustainable peace in Europe”
April 2, 2024 Twitter post by
Olena Halushka
https://twitter.com/OlenaHalushka/status/1775211466347643036
“Russia losing this war is a key precondition to
lasting sustainable peace in Europe”
&
Edited March 31, 2024
The blood of the dead of Bucha – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-blood-of-dead-in-bucha-v4.html
&
March 19, 2024
Statement by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3710899/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-20th-ukraine/
at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Germany
“The United States will not let Ukraine fail.
This coalition will not let Ukraine fail, and
the free world will not let Ukraine fail,”
Neither the word “win” nor the word “victory”
Is included in Austin’s opening remarks…
 
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, 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, victory, hope, courage, heroes, country, people, Slava Ukraini, US, NATO, EU, proxy, Let Ukraine Win, Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, terror, genocide,
 
#Poetry #Ukraine #victory #hope #courage #heroes #SlavaUkraini #US #NATO #EU #LetUkraineWin #terror #genocide #StandWithUkraine