Species from all around the globe:
An elephant, a polar bear,
And here, an unexploded bomb.
Hang about, what’s that doing there?
A tranquil spot during the week;
The animals make not a sound.
But the tail end of a rocket,
Protruding coldly from the ground,
Reveals the darker side to truth,
As people pass with bike and pram.
An enemy would like us dead;
Tranquillity becomes a sham.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/mykolaiv-zoo-life-carries-war-104811898.html
Thank you for keeping this illegal and unjust war always in the forefront of our thoughts.
Thanks, Keith, for your kind comment. I suppose that animals are considered as collateral damage or some such thing, but it does underline how horrible war is.
Thanks to Frederick and Rose.
Stephen, well done with this poem. The awful reality of war. It was the same in Berlin in 1945 where most of the animals in the zoo were mercilessly killed in bombing and shelling.
A powerful poem.
Thank you
Keith
Thank you, Graham, for your continued support, which means a great deal to me. The celebrations in Kherson were heartwarming, even though the enemy is still so close and the war is far from over.
Bethany - yes, there is so much fear and repression of ideas. And so much desperation and a complete breakdown of humanity, as your item about the animals shows.
Thanks to Mama Lola and Pete for the likes.
<Deleted User> (33540)
Sat 12th Nov 2022 23:13
Well done Stephen and thank you for this well written piece.
The answer to the question that Uilleam poses is that it is highly likely to be the case that they ( the Russian civilians ) are all living in fear of the likes of the KGB and Co.
and I have read a news item stating that because of short supplies the Russian soldiers are actually killing the Zoo animals for food,
BASTARDS!
As ever you keep the Ukraine in our thoughts (as if it could be otherwise). Well done.
In the shadows of encouraging news I am amazed how local people celebrate even thought the enemy are only three miles distant.
Astonishing!
Keep 'em coming Stephen
Thanks to Uilleam, Julie, John C and John B for the kind comments, and to Bethany and Rudyard for the likes.
Yes, Uilleam, as a lover of Russian music and culture, I find it astonishing that this country can inflict so much brutality on a neighbour. I suppose that dictators, whatever they may claim, care little for such things.
Thanks Julie, John B and John C for your observations and support.
awesome poetry. Stark and true.
Powerful juxtapositioning of the everyday with the barbarity of war.
It’s all so so sad. Well done Stephen for continuing to bring these news items to our attention with your wonderful writes. 🙏
I listen to exquisite music singing and dancing form Russia and Ukraine, and I continually ask myself how is it that people who produce such beauty inflict such cruelty?
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Stephen Gospage
Thu 17th Nov 2022 21:15
Many thanks, KJ. The whole business is so sad, so disgusting.