“In Lysychansk, if you are alive.
It’s a good day,” now almost in ‘orcs’ hands.
Leaving nothing but scorched earth.
‘Mordor’ is erasing history.
Some still trying to get out of their homes.
Rushing to board an armoured truck.
Scattering and ducking for cover.
At the sound of another shell.
A woman wandering in the street.
Clearly shocked by shell.
Clutching a small religious icon.
Near a strike that set a house alight.
“In Lysychansk, if you are alive.
It’s a good day,” now almost in ‘orcs’ hands.
Leaving nothing but scorched earth.
‘Mordor’ is erasing history.
Acknowledging that fear comes with the territory here.
“Anyone who says they are not afraid is lying.”
“Nobody wants to die.” The police chief in a low voice.
“But our brave Ukrainian policemen carry on doing their jobs.”
Remaining just sitting, even though some rushing for shelter.
The grey-haired may be too ill to move.
“There has been no water, no electricity, no gas.”
“I’m in despair. In despair.”
“In Lysychansk, if you are alive.
It’s a good day,” now almost in ‘orcs’ hands.
Leaving nothing but scorched earth.
‘Mordor’ is erasing history.
She’s ashen faced, but still clinging to her home.
“We have lived here all our lives.
“A big family with sisters and brothers, children, and grandchildren.
All of them are here. We haven’t thought about leaving.”
“We are worried about ourselves, our family, our pets.
We are worried about everything.
But we are hoping that everything will be okay.”
There are more thuds in the distance.
“In Lysychansk, if you are alive.
It’s a good day,” now almost in ‘orcs’ hands.
Leaving nothing but scorched earth.
‘Mordor’ is erasing history.
Just down the road in the twin city of Severodonetsk.
Shell, flatten, crush, the tactic is planned.
Leaving nothing but scorched earth.
‘Mordor’ is erasing history.
*Because I read “Lysychansk: Russia erasing history in Ukraine’s ‘dead city’” by Orla Guerin, Lysychansk on 14 June 2022, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 April 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem as a story of Oleh, a story of Volodymyr, and a story of Yelena.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
Lysychansk: Russia erasing history in Ukraine’s ‘dead city’ – BBC News
**My friend shows you this poem also on the Ukrainian website for their children and others!
Please join them!
