The Mavka diaries.
Vividly illustrated stories.
Written by individual members.
And published by the group.
On social media.
Present poignant accounts.
Of life under ‘orcs’.
War and occupation.
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
‘Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jujub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!’
“We held on.
To the last moment.
But had to leave.
For Zaporizhzhia.”
Reads one of.
The diaries published.
In February 2024.
“My husband stayed.”
“In Mariupol.
Forever.
My heart remained there.
Right in the yard of our house.”
“That we had been building.
With love for so long.
We buried him.
In our yard.”
“Look, look!” she cried,
pointing eagerly.
“There’s the White Queen
running across the country!
She came flying out
of the wood over yonder
– How fast those
Queens can run!”
Omnipresent fear and.
Suppression of ‘elves’ identity.
Have become eponymous.
With the ‘orcs’ occupation.
‘Elves’ citizens are denied.
‘Elves’ citizens are denied.
Medical care unless.
They accept ‘orcs’ passports.
Men are forcibly drafted.
Men are forcibly drafted.
To fight against.
Their own country.
The ‘elves’ identity of.
Children is being erased.
The ‘elves’ identity of.
Children is being erased.
In schools.
Before they’re sent off.
To “patriotic” military.
Training camps.
“There’s some enemy after her,
no doubt,” the King said,
without even looking round.
“That wood’s full of them.”
“But aren’t you going to
run and help her?”
Alice asked, very much surprised
at his talking it so quietly.
“I have never felt.
So much fear.
In my life.
As I do now.”
“Being under occupation.
I constantly feel in danger;
I fear for my life.
I am afraid that.”
“I am afraid that.
They will come for me.
And imprison me.
For supporting Ukraine.”
“I am afraid that.
They will torture me.
I am afraid that.
I will never see my son.”
Reads another passage.
From a Mavka from Starobilsk.
A city in Luhansk Oblast.
Occupied since March 2022.
“No use, no use!” said the King,
“She runs so fearfully quick.
You might as well try to
catch a Bandersnatch!
But I’ll make
a memorandum about her,
if you like
– She’s a dear good creature,”
Even for those.
Even for those.
Who do not plant bombs.
Under railway tracks.
Or report the movement.
Of ‘orcs’ troops.
To ‘elves’ authorities.
The realities of.
The realities of.
The occupation are.
Unavoidable and.
Deeply personal.
Displaying ‘elves’ symbols.
Is punished.
And people are afraid.
To speak the ‘elves’ language.
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
‘Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jujub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!’
The Mavka diaries.
Vividly illustrated stories.
Written by individual members.
And published by the group.
On social media.
Present poignant accounts.
Of life under ‘orcs’.
War and occupation.
*Because I read “‘Evil must not win’ — how Ukraine’s female partisans resist Russian occupation” by Martin Fornusek on 30 Jan 2025 on the Kyiv Independent, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022 on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem, as the stories of Mavkas, led by ‘THROUGH the LOOKING-GLASS’ written by Lewis Carroll, you know.
Please read the original story on the Kyiv Independent:
‘Evil must not win’ — how Ukraine’s female partisans resist Russian occupation
