An ‘orcs’ call-up poster.
Urges the local population.
In occupied Melitopol to “defend.
The Motherland, professionally”.
A leaflet, in a tree.
In Crimea shows.
An ‘elf’ woman in a vyshyvanka.
Defiantly saying “Not yours”.
’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!’
Crimea has been.
Under occupation.
Since ‘the One’ annexed.
The peninsula in 2014.
Since ‘the One’ annexed.
The peninsula in 2014.
When ‘orcs’ war.
In Ukraine began.
Through the Looking-Glass.
And what Alice found there.
The chessmen were walking about.
Two and two!
Through the Looking-Glass.
And what Alice found there.
One thing was certain, that.
The white kitten had nothing to do with it.
The potential dangers.
Are the same.
Whether in Mariupol.
Or Melitopol.
Seized by ‘Mordor’.
Seized by ‘Mordor’.
In the full-scale invasion.
In 2022.
Or in Crimea.
Or in Crimea.
Which was annexed.
Eight years before.
Through the Looking-Glass.
And what Alice found there.
The chessmen were walking about.
Two and two!
Through the Looking-Glass.
And what Alice found there.
White Pawn to play.
And win in eleven moves.
She decided to remain.
Also to care for.
An elderly relative.
But also because.
She did not want to.
Leave “her beautiful home”.
She did not want to.
Leave “her beautiful home”.
She very soon came to
an open field,
with a wood
on the other side of it:
it looked much darker
than the last wood,
and Alice felt a little timid
about going into it.
All signs of.
‘Elves’ identity.
Have been banned.
In public.
And she cannot.
Speak ‘elves’ language.
In public.
Any more.
“As you never know.
Who can tell.
The authorities on you”.
“As you never know.”
However,
on second thoughts,
she made up
her mind to go on:
‘for I certainly won’t go back,’
she thought to herself,
and this was the only way
to the Eighth Square.
Children at nursery school.
In Crimea are told.
To sing the ‘orcs’ anthem.
Every morning.
Even the very youngest.
Even the very youngest.
All the teachers.
Are ‘orcs’.
Most of them.
Wives of soldiers.
Who have moved in.
From ‘Mordor’.
‘This must be the wood,’
she said thoughtfully to herself,
‘where things have no names.
I wonder
I wonder
what’ll become of my name
when I go in?
I shouldn’t like to lose it at all
She occasionally puts on.
Her traditional, embroidered.
Vyshyvanka top.
Vyshyvanka top.
When she has video calls.
With friends elsewhere.
On the peninsula.
“It helps us.”
“To keep our spirits high.
Reminding us about.
Our happy life.
Before the occupation”.
– because they’d have to
give me another,
and it would be almost certain
to be an ugly one.
But then the fun would be,
trying to find the creature
that had got my old name!
That’s just like
But the risks are high.
Even for wearing.
A vyshyvanka.
A vyshyvanka.
“They might not shoot you.
Straight away, but.
You can simply disappear.
Afterwards, silently.”
the advertisements, you know,
when people lose dogs
– “answers to the name of ‘Dash;’
had on a brass collar” –
just fancy calling
everything you met “Alice,”
till one of them answered!
Only they wouldn’t answer at all,
She speaks of an ‘elf’ friend.
Being questioned.
By police because.
‘Orcs’ neighbours.
Who came to Crimea.
In 2014.
Told police he had.
Illegal weapons.
“Of course he didn’t.
Luckily they let him go.
In the end.
But it’s so frightening.”
if they were wise.’
She was rambling on in this way
When she reached the wood:
it looked very cool and shady.
‘Well, at any rate
it’s a great comfort,’
she said as she stepped
under the trees,
She complains that.
She cannot go out.
On her own.
Even for coffee.
“Because soldiers can.
Point a gun at you.
And say something abusive.
Or order you to please them”.
‘after being so hot,
to get into the – into the –
into what?
she went on,
rather surprised at
not being able to think
of the word.
‘I mean to get under the –
Resistance in Ukraine’s.
Occupied cities.
Is dangerous.
And it often comes.
In small acts.
Of defiance aimed at.
Reminding residents.
That they are not alone.
“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!”
Zla Mavka.
The network is made up.
Of women and girls in.
“Pretty much all occupied cities”.
Although she cannot.
Reveal its size or scale.
Because of the potential dangers.
For its members.
“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.
She fears for.
Crimea’s next generation.
Who have grown up.
In an atmosphere of violence.
And, she says, copy.
Their fathers who have.
Returned from ‘orcs’ war.
Against Ukraine.
“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,”
She shows you.
Her bandaged cat.
A child on her street.
Shot it with a rubber bullet.
“For them it was fun.
These kids are not taught.
To build peace.
They are taught to fight.”
“It breaks my heart.”
“These kids are not taught.
To build peace.
They are taught to fight.”
’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!’
A leaflet on a park bench.
Says the Mavka movement.
“Has the power”.
Quoting the famous words.
Of national poet.
Taras Shevchenko:
“Fight and you will overcome”.
“Fight and you will overcome”.
*Because I read “Silent acts of resistance and fear under Russian occupation in Ukraine” by Olga Malchevska on 1 Jun 2025, 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 a story of Iryna, led by ‘THROUGH the LOOKING-GLASS’ written by Lewis Carroll, you know.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
Russian occupation in Ukraine: Silent acts of resistance and fear
