Kharkiv Welcome
Russian soldier, welcome.
You now stand to discard the rule of logic,
welcome to our home, our oblast.
You are welcome to register at the city hall;
fellow tourists with arms, ready to maim, shoot, and kill,
destroy everything, out-Nazi the Nazis.
We know you’re innocent, cannon fodders for your tsar;
we hold him responsible but not you,
for skinning the innocent.
You stand to learn we’re not enemies,
only neighbors who wish to live free;
we’ll name our streets after you if you
follow your human dignity, if you
refuse to fire, disobey and be free.
Russian soldier, justice is more powerful than the weapon,
truth more dear to God than power.
You’re welcome to explore our city and
check in for the night, just stay indoor in
curfew hours.
Welcome to our brave city, writing new
its future epigraph.
Your invasion plan is up in smoke;
it is now your turn to strike
a unilateral withdraw.
Copyright © Kaveh Afrasiabi | Year Posted 2022
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