on Ukraine

it’s still a dream
of some young men to follow
to fight in a war
on the side of right
to leave their home
setting off in hope
that they’ll add weight
to counter evil’s might

I met one such young man
seeking purposeful life
although he had a child
with his teenage wife

old England’s dull
and work’s a bore
there’s nothing on TV
and the winter’s cold
long dark nights mean staying in
and screen-based work’s devoid of meaning

there must be more
must be some excitement
something that offers purpose
somewhere with worthwhile cause

here, my young friend swallowed his pride
packed up his coltish ideals
dug in to help bring up his child
but another went despite parental pleas
out on his first mission
mere minutes before he died

a Russian drone
cut him down
without fear or favour
its operator at no risk at all
just set its sights
then watched him fall

~

n.b. The need to feel that one’s life has purpose is a powerful driver of behaviour and choices. Alternatively, when there is lack of purpose and little hope of improvement, this is also a powerful driver of behaviour and choices. Which was it that drove a teenager from Huddersfield to volunteer to fight in Ukraine?

His loss is another sadness, piled upon the mountainous sadness of this cruel Muscovite campaign.

CLP 03/02/2025