I keep hearing his name, his memory
repeating,
Taras Shevchenko, the Bard of Ukraine,
in my mind, in my vision, my spirit,
I hear Taras’ whisper to me,
I don’t always know what he is saying.
But I long to figure this out…
I feel his pride in his countrymen,
The living people of Ukraine…
I feel a pull from his presence, his words,
in the fight for his country, their resolve,
his sorrow for his people, their struggle,
echoing deep within me, in the same way
I felt standing where Burns was born,
The birth of my original poetry…
Somehow, I sense him calling to me, yes,
As I support his homeland, Ukraine…
Somehow, I sense the writers Bulgakov and
Gogol,
The Master and Margarita and Dead Souls,
entering my consciousness, my spirit…
They too want to gather with us in conversation,
something of the truth of Russia, its ethos,
to understand more fully this conflict,
nations, poets’ passions flowing,
more than what I read each day…
I hear Taras calling, whispering words
of the great grave, of freedom…
I do not yet comprehend fully,
I long to know, to understand, language,
He is calling me from my distant lands,
How can I use my words to support,
to aid, to heal his homeland,
his love, his blessed Ukraina…
----------
Edited June 22, 2026
I hear Taras’ whisper to me... – v6
about
Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko…
Robert Burns, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Nikolai Gogol…
Robert Frost and Mary Oliver…
September 29, 2025
the stone in my pocket
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-stone-in-my-pocket.html
September 29, 2025
Why did he whisper to me?
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/why-did-he-whisper-to-me.html
Edited September 28, 2025
the whisper of Burns – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-whisper-of-burns-v4.html
sensing Robert Burns’ spirit, his words,
in my first poem and continuing
Written and posted October 13, 2024
the whisper of Burns
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-whisper-of-burns_25.html
Edited December 11, 2023
I hear you calling to me – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/12/i-hear-you-calling-to-me-v3.html
earlier poem, sensing Robert Burns…
I visited the birthplace of Robert Burns in Scotland in 1999.
That was where I started writing my 1st poem...
Written and posted October 12, 2024
Channeling Taras
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/channeling-taras_25.html
About Taras Shevchenko speaking to my spirit,
through his life and poetry
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, Robert Burns, Scotland, Highlands,
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, Watson, heather, Alloway Auld Kirk,
whisper, Tam o’ Shanter, Brig o’ Doon, Ayrshire, Urquhart Castle, ancestors,
Scottish,
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-----------------
poetry, Ukraine, God, prayer, muse, writing, poets, calling, purpose, Taras Shevchenko, Robert Burns, Mikhail Bulgakov, Nikolai Gogol, whisper, presence,
#poetry #Ukraine #God #prayer #muse #writing #poets #calling
#purpose #TarasShevchenko #RobertBurns #MikhailBulgakov #NikolaiGogol #whisper
#presence
Taras Shevchenko, the Bard of Ukraine,
in my mind, in my vision, my spirit,
I hear Taras’ whisper to me,
I don’t always know what he is saying.
But I long to figure this out…
I feel his pride in his countrymen,
The living people of Ukraine…
in the fight for his country, their resolve,
his sorrow for his people, their struggle,
echoing deep within me, in the same way
I felt standing where Burns was born,
The birth of my original poetry…
Somehow, I sense him calling to me, yes,
As I support his homeland, Ukraine…
The Master and Margarita and Dead Souls,
entering my consciousness, my spirit…
They too want to gather with us in conversation,
something of the truth of Russia, its ethos,
to understand more fully this conflict,
nations, poets’ passions flowing,
more than what I read each day…
of the great grave, of freedom…
I do not yet comprehend fully,
I long to know, to understand, language,
He is calling me from my distant lands,
How can I use my words to support,
to aid, to heal his homeland,
his love, his blessed Ukraina…
Edited June 22, 2026
I hear Taras’ whisper to me... – v6
Robert Burns, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Nikolai Gogol…
Robert Frost and Mary Oliver…
September 29, 2025
the stone in my pocket
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-stone-in-my-pocket.html
September 29, 2025
Why did he whisper to me?
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/why-did-he-whisper-to-me.html
Edited September 28, 2025
the whisper of Burns – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-whisper-of-burns-v4.html
sensing Robert Burns’ spirit, his words,
in my first poem and continuing
Written and posted October 13, 2024
the whisper of Burns
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-whisper-of-burns_25.html
Edited December 11, 2023
I hear you calling to me – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/12/i-hear-you-calling-to-me-v3.html
earlier poem, sensing Robert Burns…
I visited the birthplace of Robert Burns in Scotland in 1999.
That was where I started writing my 1st poem...
Written and posted October 12, 2024
Channeling Taras
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/10/channeling-taras_25.html
About Taras Shevchenko speaking to my spirit,
through his life and poetry
Poetry Where You Live.
poetry, Ukraine, God, prayer, muse, writing, poets, calling, purpose, Taras Shevchenko, Robert Burns, Mikhail Bulgakov, Nikolai Gogol, whisper, presence,
