Street Art in Cardiff © Gareth James 2022 (Geograph)
Ukraine April 4th 2022
The names are familiar now
Like echoes from history
My Lai, Guernica and Oradour-sur-Glane
Rolled upon the tongue
Like boiled sweets
Found scattered in the streets
Of Kharkiv, Bucha and Mariupol
“There are no threats to the civilian population”.
They staged it all
Those damned “khokol”
Fake bodies, fake car wrecks
Fake apartment blocks blown to smithereens
Fake tanks abandoned at fake roadsides
Fakery is all…
“There are no threats to the civilian population”.
Checking his hair
The tyrant seethes in his lair
Ineptitude and lies lurk everywhere
Fists beat the desk like a drum
Praise to old times and fading glory
Let us resume our epic story
And remember
“There are no threats to the civilian population”.
Like echoes from history
My Lai, Guernica and Oradour-sur-Glane
Rolled upon the tongue
Like boiled sweets
Found scattered in the streets
Of Kharkiv, Bucha and Mariupol
“There are no threats to the civilian population”.
Those damned “khokol”
Fake bodies, fake car wrecks
Fake apartment blocks blown to smithereens
Fake tanks abandoned at fake roadsides
Fakery is all…
“There are no threats to the civilian population”.
The tyrant seethes in his lair
Ineptitude and lies lurk everywhere
Fists beat the desk like a drum
Praise to old times and fading glory
Let us resume our epic story
And remember
“There are no threats to the civilian population”.
An excellent and very moving poem Mr Pudding.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading it Steve.
DeleteYes. Imagine the arrogance of a person thinking the truth would not get out.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of truth appears to puzzle Putrid.
DeleteQuite moving - both the poem and the street art.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your consideration Kelly.
DeleteNice work about an un-nice matter.
ReplyDeleteThe tear in the eye is amazing. How did he do it! It is a moving work of art.
Amazing art in a neglected part of the Welsh capital. Thanks for reading the poem Andrew.
DeleteLiars lie. That is what they do. And megalomaniacs are liars. And people die while they lie.
ReplyDeleteThat street art, like your poem, is so moving.
Thank you for your consideration Ms Moon.
DeletePowerful. And so well written.
ReplyDeleteI feel honoured by this remark Catalyst. Thank you.
DeleteA very moving poem.
ReplyDeleteI have visited Oradour. It has a strange feeling.
I have a book about it and would be more than happy to pop it in the post for you.
That's kind of you Christina. Clearly Oradour's message has remained unheard in The Kremlin.
DeleteGreat poem and superb artwork.
ReplyDeleteSadly I am only responsible for one Dave.
Delete"No threats to the civilian population"
ReplyDeleteThat man is a Liar, Liar, pants on fire, insane little bully.
The mural brings tears to my own eyes.
I took that line from TASS - the official Russian news agency.
DeleteAnd its deliberate, all deliberate. The actions of war to frighten the people. Women fear rape, someone said on the radio yesterday, the first thing she grabbed was a condom and a pair of scissors. We cannot even think what it is like wandering round ruined apartments and streets. Your poem captures it, but the responsibility spreads down from the top, through the generals and soldiers.
ReplyDeleteThey have opened up a can of worms that will wriggle long after the war in UKraine reaches a conclusion.
DeleteA very moving poem and excellent choice of artwork.
ReplyDeleteI know you do not give out praise lightly Carol so I really appreciate your response.
DeleteAn amazing mural. A liar assumes everyone else is lying. I so pray we can hunt that man down and make him pay.
ReplyDeleteHe can never carry on as though it's still yesteryear. He has chosen to be a ruthless mass murderer.
DeleteAt least everyone knows he's lying. Even the Russians know he's lying.
ReplyDeleteI suppose war has always been like this - using lies and truth as weapons.
DeleteYour poem paints a vivid picture, so sad to hear and see what's been done to Ukraine, when will it ever end.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the legacy of the war in Ukraine will last for decades.
Delete"Checking his hair
ReplyDeleteThe tyrant seethes in his lair"
That line was the most visual of all to me. I can't wait for the day he is pulled from his lair.
Mass murderers deserve more than a life sentence in some comfortable jail.
DeleteWell done on the poem. You chose your words well and it is very touching. That artwork is amazing too.
ReplyDeleteI hope for peace for Ukraine.
Thank you for your kind words Ellen.
Delete