UKRAINE


Paradise is Lost. Children have been slaughtered.

The murdering of innocents - mothers, sons and daughters.

Crushing grief and searing horror; enough to fry the mind,

And beloved terrified family pets, you’re forced to leave behind.

 

Lovely homes and gardens, blown to smithereens.

The death of joy and normal life, the end of hopes and dreams.

Of fun and parks and dancing days, of many happy hours.

Now piles of rubble, a stray dog cowers;

Where once were schools and pretty flowers.

 

The monster wails his barbaric lies, whilst burning cities from OPEN skies.

Watched by millions, turning eyes, blinded as the mind denies.

To the face of evil and the Zsar of the flies.

Midst howling lamentations, we hear the baby’s cries.

 

So we pray for peace and the caging of the beast,

Or a semblance of truth – at least, NOT least.

Whilst a theatre by the sea, with children’s warning signs,

Is bombed like life means nothing; the most hideous of crimes.

 

But roar - tis war! We dare not weep.

Whilst rockets rampage and THEY dare not sleep.

From Kiev to Kolomyia, from Kharkiv to Lviv …

In Mariupol - total devastation; nothing left to give.

 

Across this ancient, blighted land – the tanks, with shadows creep,

Beyond the ghosts of history, and cultures truly deep.

So we hold our breaths ……. In numbness and in sorrow.

Lest it be us, when we wake tomorrow.

 

Jayl De Lara

19th March 2022

Dedicated to all the men, women, children and animals of Ukraine, who have been killed, injured, brutalized, bereaved, displaced, or their homes and lives utterly destroyed; as a result of this unprovoked, cruel and barbaric aggression against their country.


And to the memory of Dr.Adam Lenko (1924 - 2020)  

Adam was born and grew up in Kolomyia - Ukraine (then part of Poland).

 In 1939, at the age of 15, Adam (along with his Mother and Sister), was arrested and sent to freezing Siberia; after the Red Army invaded their land.

 Before he passed away, Adam warned that there would soon be Russian aggression once again.