sunrise dulls night’s stars
under lunar indifference
resistance is all
three years have spun
with nothing to celebrate
except life itself
this fight not over
embattled Kyiv’s trams will run
there is still a pulse
hospitals and schools
bakeries and street markets
precious exchanges
money greases hands
merchants of war grow fatter
Ukraine their foir gras
yellow and blue bands
wheat sent by sea feeds the world
therein grains of truth
one man can stop this
another will rest in peace
when peace itself comes
~
n.b. As the grind of this war continues, another bitter anniversary passes, I listen again and again to Heinali’s music blended with sounds of life going on despite everything. Kyiv Eternal is a reminder of nature’s persistence and Ukrainian resistance to Moscow’s tyrant.
CLP 24/02/2024
Journey of Words 