(Catherine the Great’s statue is removed from its place in Odesa following an on-line poll)

 

To pacify our much-bombarded town,

Catherine’s statue has been taken down:

A nod to the invader’s former might,

Now banished from the population’s sight.

Some will object – ‘let history remain’,

But others think of violence and pain,

With all that this construction represents,

Reminding them of horrible events.

The process which led to this removal

Did not earn unanimous approval;

The status quo with ‘context’ was a way

To keep the peace and leave her on display.

But these unique and bloody times of war

May justify the sledgehammer and saw.