POETS STRANDED

‘Mordor’’s anthem.

Booms through loudspeakers.

And the tricolour flag.

Is unfurled.

 

But look a little closer.

And it’s clear that.

None of the children’s lips.

Are moving.

 

The camera operator.

Suddenly realizes that.

One girl has her hands.

Over her ears.

 

To block out the sound.

One girl has her hands.

Over her ears.

Too late, they zoom away from her.

 

 

The women were being helped.

By a group which stepped in.

When it emerged that hundreds of.

‘Elves’ children might be stranded.

 

Some were from broken homes.

Or less well-off families.

Struggling with the logistics.

And funding for the trip.

 

Other parents had been hesitant.

About returning their children.

To cities.

Under heavy ‘orcs’ fire.

 

The women continued.

The 24-hour drive south to Crimea.

As they drew close.

They stopped for a break.

 

And a 64-year-old took.

A couple of steps.

Collapsed, and died.

By the side of the road.

 

After days cramped-up.

In a minibus.

In a state of stress.

Her heart had given out.

 

Now the group which helped her.

Is trying to return.

Her ashes as well as.

Her granddaughter.

 

 

‘Mordor’’s anthem.

Booms through loudspeakers.

And the tricolour flag.

Is unfurled.

 

But look a little closer.

And it’s clear that.

None of the children’s lips.

Are moving.

 

The camera operator.

Suddenly realizes that.

One girl has her hands.

Over her ears.

 

To block out the sound.

One girl has her hands.

Over her ears.

Too late, they zoom away from her.

 

 

The women made their way.

To ‘Mordor’ to save their children.

The group returned.

31 children that day.

 

And several confirmed that.

Camp staff had threatened.

To place them in care.

Which had scared them.

 

They talked of being.

Taken on excursions.

At the start.

And being reasonably fed and clothed.

 

But on ‘orcs’-controlled territory.

They were treated.

And taught.

As ‘orcs’.

 

When inspectors visited from Moscow.

The ‘elves’ had to line up.

Beside the ‘orcs’ flag.

And sing the ‘orcs’ anthem.

 

In October.

The puppet of Kherson.

Posted a video on Telegram.

Of such a moment.

 

 

‘Mordor’’s anthem.

Booms through loudspeakers.

And the tricolour flag.

Is unfurled.

 

But look a little closer.

And it’s clear that.

None of the children’s lips.

Are moving.

 

The camera operator.

Suddenly realizes that.

One girl has her hands.

Over her ears.

 

To block out the sound.

One girl has her hands.

Over her ears.

Too late, they zoom away from her.

 

 

*Because I read “Ukraine war: The mothers going to get their children back from Russia” by Sarah Rainsford on 1 June 2023, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem, including a story of Olha.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:

Ukraine war: The mothers going to get their children back from Russia – BBC News

 

 

**My friend shows you this poem with the other 2 poems together also on the Ukrainian website for their children and others!

Kurama (Japan). Three poems about the return of deported Ukrainian children from mordor (2022 russian invasion of Ukraine) – Мала Сторінка (storinka.org)

Please join them!