Poem: Weep Not, Ukraine!
By Mwebe Morgan
Photo by Amir Esrafili: https://www.pexels.com/photo/for-peace-11623734/
Weep not! Ukraine, a land of nowhere men!
A country that has been plagued by successive invasions and authoritarian regimes.
A vast land torn apart by its religious fiefdoms, each vying for a piece of Ukrainian souls!
It is a land divided against itself, by its diverse geography and people.
It is a clash between different cultures and norms,
Yet this land has survived centuries of conquest and counter conquest!
The invaders have besieged her from everywhere, but Ukraine survived.
Ukraine is a country of free spirit and perseverance,
She brought forth the Cossacks,
A group of nationalistic and military brotherhoods defended her.
Taras Shevchenko, a renowned Ukrainian painter and poet, wrote ballads about courage,
For a country, he called home!
He told stories of Ukraine's greatness, a free democratic enclave surrounded by hostile adversaries.
The tales of Taras inspired Volodymyr Zelensky to defend a land he now calls his home!
In Kyiv streets, he commands his countrymen and women to stand their ground.
Centuries ago, this vast fertile land was on the brink of destruction, yet she survived!
Ukraine has endured all political, censorship and military bullying head-on.
She stood on her own in a pit of enemies,
Yet, she survived Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union and Warsaw pact.
Since 1991, Ukraine has used its natural resources to build a nation.
She stayed strong until she flirted with a serial skirt racer, known as NATO!
A man with a larger-than-life ego,
A womaniser who writes bad checks and makes empty promises.
Today, Ukraine is at war, against herself; separatists, and a foreign big ugly bear.
For the moment, Ukraine stands alone amidst “friendly” neighbours as the war rages!
Katyusha rockets, cruise missiles, aerial bombardments have decimated her cities!
Every day, she cries for help, and help comes in trickles!
Her new NATO boyfriend dissolved into the air.
Zelensky, the president and comedian, rallies his people, not to give up.
He's a beacon of hope that one man can change the world around him.
And Ukraine continues to stand out against the bear, fighting for her sovereignty and future!
