Today is International Women’s Day – and we at Write Out Loud have decided to mark it by drawing attention to this poem posted today by one of our regular bloggers, Julie Callaghan. Julie has been posting a number of poignant poems about the war in Ukraine – and this, we think, is possibly her finest yet.

It focuses on the women and young girls taking cover in the shelters as the bombs and shells fall in Ukraine. Thank you, Julie, for letting us share this. The title ‘Two Weeks Ago’ refers to the fact that, back then, “ these people / lived their lives like you and me.”

  

 

TWO WEEKS AGO

by Julie Callaghan

 

Images come from underground

in the shelters of Ukraine

A place where women take cover

from the ruthless, deadly rain

 

A teenager dances ballet

and a young girl sings her song

A woman plays the piano

sobbing as she sings along

 

Two young girls and their mother

huddled together through the night

Their faces show dread and fear

for the father who left to fight

 

Sights I thought I’d never see

from a few hundred miles away

Scenes of war and destruction

shouldn’t be happening today

 

Two weeks ago these families

lived their lives safe and free

Two weeks ago these people

lived their lives like you and me

 

 

-------------------

 

As the young girl bravely sings

a song from her favourite show

A hidden, passionate plea

now is the time to “let it go”

 

And as the storm rages on

the world sends a message to Putin

This war against humanity

you're never going to win