Ukraine is redefining
The new face of courage
In a world still reeling
From the virus.
Ukraine is telling us
Where conviction resides
Where love for family ends
And love for country begins.
This country is showing us
How to face the line of fire
And to remain steadfast
As bombs fall
With the rain of bullets
In the heart of the city.
What do you make
Of Ukrainian baritone
Singing his national anthem
Acapella
Along Downing Street
In London?
What do you make
Of patriarchs
Escorting their families
To evacuation centers
Only to return to the battle ground
In defense of their motherland?
What do you make
Of Ukrainian beauty queen
Dumping high heels
For combat shoes?
What do you make
Of sweethearts pleading loyalty
To each other
Then get married
And promptly return
To the battle lines
For love of country?
What do you see
In your own country?
They shoot
Young men and women
Fighting for the poor and the oppressed.
They separate babies
From imprisoned mothers.
And why are mothers handcuffed
By the military
As they bury their loved ones?
They mock the bereaved
Of murdered activists
By racing to the cemetery
Ahead of kith and kin
Following the funeral hearse.
They arrest medical doctors
Living with the poor
They who can’t afford
The country’s errant
Medical care.
The face of courage
And conviction in this country
Has gone to the dogs
With serial killers,
Thieves and ex-convicts
All set to lead
The country in deep despair.
Indeed
There is a lot
To learn from Ukraine
And how they keep
Honor and conviction.
I like
How they define
Patriotism
In one’s native land
More in practice
Than empty chatter.
It is pure cinema
Of heroism
Seeing this Ukrainian soldier
Blow himself up
To demolish the bridge
In the brink of being used
By advancing enemies.
Can’t get over
What he did.
To blow himself up
Into smithereens
Just to serve beloved country
Under siege.