Brian Sambourne Poet Free verse

War On Ukraine

Kyiv, cultural hub of Eastern Europe
         ancestral home of ancient Slavs
         bombardment implacable 
         by the Russian tyrant's corps
a despot dismissing Ukraine's nationhood
                                      a democratic thrust
          shackling Ukraine for its wheat wealth
                                                 and mineral gain
marching black boots, green tanks that roll
                  demands for political control
                  when free will's deemed a provocation 

love of country
love of freedom
         Ukrainians fight onslaught, relentless 
          inestimable courage          
'gainst the Russian foe, its war crimes with a
                                   molten flow
while the West slips to a sanctions blow
pilgrimage of military ware

media clips of Ukrainian children, women, the frail
mass flee through rubble, shell shocked 
          a trek that strips the soles of feet
          from Russian air strikes
          an indiscriminate killing
          humanitarian crisis overflow

"War of annihilation!" Ukraine's president cries
           blood soaked strife
by the Russian bear in cagey deception 
           quest of domination
           arched back of aggression 

a world order dissolving
           in the violent pitch of chaos
           people shredded like cheap currency
           their mythic status to fight on 
           to salvage freedom's shank of gold

too many "why's" to answer for
nimble evasions
should the west look away from
rattling war's expansive cage



Poem composed: March 18, 2022

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Joe Maverick October 30, 2022 at 2:25 PM War raw raw, an evil to readily advocated and Resorted to, by leaders spending time in other Resorts.' They have chests full of medals. And Coins no doubt..' which could be used to Free others of certain un-palatable scruples What can I add? Brian.' Brian Sambourne October 30, 2022 at 8:36 PM Greetings Joe. Thank you for your drop by + response to my posting. Yes, leaders indulge themselves, while youthful soldiers bleed. I pursued that idea in another poem, "Blindly, War." Be well. Brian

Susan Ashley May 10, 2022 at 4:06 PM Dear Brian, your expressive pen eloquently captures the heart wrenching politics of a democracy being victimized by a brutal dictator. Your last two lines provide a provocative question as sharp as a double edged sword. A potent political piece. Warmest wishes, my friend.. ~Susan Brian Sambourne May 10, 2022 at 6:03 PM Dear Susan, You are most kind in message by seeing validity in my poem recently given an NA as I believe it was too literal approach to the Ukrainian conflict. Your thoughtful words are sun on a spring day. Be well. Sincerely, Brian

Sara Kendrick May 8, 2022 at 6:55 AM A good political work you have penned in this one. The war is being exposed to the whole world through our television screens but it seems we can do nothing to stop it. It is a sad state of affairs and they have destroyed the property so badly that it is of no good to anyone. The loss of human life so unnecessary and why? I don't we really have the answers. Only Putin has the real reasons so the world will never know what has gone on and is going on in that man's head. Thanks for your visit to my page. Sara Brian Sambourne May 8, 2022 at 10:04 AM Hello Sara Thank you for your kind comment. I suspect the poem has too much of a news-linear approach to be popular. To me, there is evil in dictators + after years of being unchallenged, that evil manifests itself in war + slaughter. Let's pray Ukrainians can thwart this relentless invasion. Be well. Sincerely, Brian

Thomas Wells April 23, 2022 at 8:58 PM ."..a world order dissolving in the violent pitch of chaos people shredded like cheap currency" What a potent, jarring line so apropos in capturing the dehumanization of war. This is a very powerful poem on a topic difficult to handle. Brian Sambourne April 24, 2022 at 6:28 AM Thank you Thomas. I appreciate your input. My poem failed to register in the Kyiv contest as I assumed it was a too literal account of this horrendous war. Be well. Brian

Anil Deo April 5, 2022 at 2:59 AM ThanX for doing your part for global freedom. Passionate & factual. Our global economy has also protected dictators till they metamorphose into bloody tyrants. Shalom shalom Brian Sambourne April 5, 2022 at 9:41 AM Thanks very much, Anil for your positive view of my War in Ukraine poem. Be well. Brian