’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!’
Somewhere in the streets.
Of ‘orcs’-occupied Simferopol.
The capital of Crimea.
A woman puts a sticker.
A woman puts a sticker.
On the wall.
It’s a short message.
But if she is seen.
Doing it.
She will face arrest.
Prosecution, and.
Likely, torture.
The message is:
“Soon, we will be home again.”
The message is:
“Soon, we will be home again.”
“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!”
On another sticker.
The most dangerous three words.
In the occupied Crimea:
“This is Ukraine.”
What makes it.
Even more risky.
For their bearer.
Is the language.
The words are.
In ‘elves’ language.
The words are.
In ‘elves’ language.
“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.
The woman putting up.
The stickers is.
A member of Zla Mavka.
An all-female resistance group.
She is on a dangerous mission:
To give hope.
In the occupied territories.
Hope is a prized commodity.
“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,”
As ‘Mordor’’s full-scale war.
Is about to reach.
Is about to reach.
Its grim third anniversary.
Its grip over.
One-fifth of.
‘Elves’ territory.
Has only grown tighter.
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 prospects for.
Full military liberation.
Of the occupied regions.
— including Crimea.
And parts of.
The Donbas region.
Occupied since 2014 —
Seem ever more distant.
Nothing, my lord.
Nothing.
Nothing, my lord.
Nothing.
After seeing the liberation.
Of the parts of Kyiv.
Kharkiv, and Kherson oblasts.
In 2022.
‘Elves’ in other occupied areas.
Have been hoping.
That their turn will.
Come soon.
That their turn will.
Come soon.
Now they struggle to find.
Comfort in the latest news.
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.
Nonetheless, a woman.
One of the three women.
Who founded Zla Mavka.
An all-women resistance movement.
That operates across.
Occupied territories.
Including Crimea and.
Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Says she plans to fight.
As long as possible.
“As long as there is hope.
We will continue to resist.”
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.
The name, Zla Mavka.
Or Angry Mavka.
Harkens back to.
Old ‘elves’ folklore.
— the mavka is.
A woodland female spirit.
Who uses its beautiful appearance.
To lure men to their deaths.
An image of.
A young woman.
Clad in white garb and.
Wearing a wreath of flowers.
Became the most iconic attribute.
Of their imagery.
Mavkas are not.
Easy to reach.
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.
Their members never know.
When an ‘orc’ soldier.
Will stop them.
In the street.
To inspect the contents.
Of their phones.
She sends her answers in.
Writing through an intermediary.
“If we lose.
We won’t have a life here.”
She writes.
“We will have to leave.”
“We will have to leave.
Our homes because.
Living under ‘orcs’ occupation.
Is worse than prison.”
‘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 comes from a city.
In southeastern Ukraine.
That was seized by ‘orcs’.
Mere days after.
The outbreak of.
The full-scale war.
After Moscow illegally declared.
The annexation of.
The lands they seized.
Hers and other cities.
Under ‘orcs’ control.
Were to be remodeled.
Were to be remodeled.
Into Potemkin villages.
— a veneer of.
A harmonious cohabitation.
Covering up arrests.
Torture, and repressions.
Covering up arrests.
Torture, and repressions.
– 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
On Women’s Day.
On 8 March 2023.
— more than a year after.
The start of the occupation —
‘Orcs’ troops were lined up.
In the city’s streets.
To dutifully hand out.
Flowers to ‘elves’ women.
The gesture had.
A different effect.
Than ‘Mordor’ might.
Have hoped.
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,
It was the “insolence of.
‘Orcs’ occupiers and.
Their attitudes.
Toward women”.
That inspired.
That inspired.
The founding of Zla Mavka.
She explains.
“We wanted to remind them.
That they are not at home.
That this is Ukraine.
And they are not welcome.”
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,
The trio of founders.
One of whom is an artist.
Began distributing posters.
Bearing an inscription.
In ‘orcs’ language reading.
“I don’t want flowers!
I want my Ukraine back!”
And a drawing.
And a drawing.
Of a woman.
Smashing an ‘orc’ soldier.
With a bouquet.
‘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 –
Since these early days.
The movement grew to.
Hundreds of activists.
Forming a decentralized group.
Forming a decentralized group.
Coordinated through.
Anonymous chatbots.
On a messenger app.
The group spread to.
Different occupied regions.
And became especially.
Active in Crimea.
And became especially.
Active in Crimea.
With a few members.
Hailing even from Donbas.
‘What does it call itself,
I wonder?
I do believe it’s got no name –
why, to be sure it hasn’t!’
She stood silent
for a minute, thinking:
then she suddenly began again.
‘Then it really has happened, after all!
Zla Mavka may be.
Only one of.
Several resistance groups.
That sprung up.
That sprung up.
In ‘orcs’-held areas.
Including the Yellow Ribbon.
And Atesh.
But its all-female character.
And the use of humor.
And creativity sets.
It apart from others.
And now, who am I?
I will remember,
if I can!
I’m determined to do it!’
But being determined
didn’t help her much,
and all she could say,
after a great deal of puzzling, was,
Creativity is the group’s.
Greatest strength.
She says.
Half-jokingly suggesting.
That women can be.
More sophisticated.
In the ways of resistance.
Than their male counterparts.
‘L, I know
it begins with L!’
Just then a Fawn
came wandering by:
it looked at Alice
with its large gentle eyes,
but didn’t seem
at all frightened.
Among the many acts.
Of resistance.
Since the foundation.
Of the group.
Mavkas say they created.
Fake ruble banknotes.
Reminding the ‘orcs’.
That “Crimea is Ukraine.”
Burned ‘orcs’ flags.
And filled the streets.
With pro-‘elves’ graffiti.
Posters, and poetry.
At times, they say.
They mix laxatives.
Into food and alcohol.
Served to ‘orcs’ soldiers.
A treat they mischievously.
Dubbed the “Mavka cocktail.”
A treat they mischievously.
Dubbed the “Mavka cocktail.”
‘Here then! Here then!’
Alice said, as she
held out her hand
and tried to stroke it;
but it only started
back a little,
and then stood
looking at her again.
Their activities also venture.
Into more usual.
Resistance activities.
Including the distribution.
Of self-published newspapers.
To counter ‘orcs’ propaganda or.
— according to the ‘elves’ military-run.
National Resistance Center —
Passing information.
About the ‘orcs’ military.
To Ukraine.
To Ukraine.
‘What do you call yourself?’
the Fawn said at last.
Such a soft sweet voice it had!
‘I wish I knew!’ thought poor Alice.
She answered, rather sadly,
‘Nothing, just now.’
‘Think again,’ it said:
‘that won’t do.’
But she emphasizes that.
Zla Mavka is more than.
Zla Mavka is more than.
Just a resistance group.
It has become a source.
Of support for ‘elves’.
Amid the hardship.
Of occupation.
— a community where.
Anonymity is no obstacle.
To connection.
To connection.
Alice thought,
but nothing came of it.
‘Please, would you tell me
what you call yourself?’
she said timidly.
‘I think that might help a little.’
‘I’ll tell you,
if you’ll come
“It’s disgusting, nauseating.”
She says as she describes.
What she feels.
Seeing ‘orcs’ soldiers.
In the streets.
Of her hometown.
Every day.
“It’s especially difficult.”
“When you have to talk to them.
You want to say everything.
You think about them.
Scratch out their faces.”
“I don’t know what…
But you have to be discreet.
And not reveal anything.”
And not reveal anything.”
a little further on,’
the Fawn said.
‘I can’t remember here.’
‘I can’t remember here.’
So they walked on together
through the wood,
Alice with her arms
clasped lovingly round
It is in the acts.
Of resistance.
Great or small.
That ‘elves’ find strength.
That ‘elves’ find strength.
While living under occupation.
“You feel that.
You are doing.”
“Something for which.
You will not be ashamed.
To look your children.
In the eyes.”
“That you are helping.
That you did not break.”
She explains.
But every time.
But every time.
It is as scary as.
The first time.
She admits.
Using a common ‘elves’.
Saying that translates to:
“The eyes are scared.
But the hands are doing.”
‘I’m a Fawn!’
it cried out
in a voice of delight,
‘and, dear me!
You’re a human child!’
A sudden look of alar came
into its beautiful brown eyes,
and in another moment
At the time when.
Zla Mavka was founded.
The hope felt across Ukraine.
Was palpable.
Not only were ‘orcs’ forces.
Humiliated in Kyiv Oblast.
But ‘elves’ counteroffensives.
In the fall of 2022.
Liberated dozens of.
Towns and villages.
In Kherson and.
Kharkiv oblasts.
Including the city of Kherson.
But then a new counteroffensive.
The long-awaited one.
That was meant to cut into.
‘Orcs’ lines.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
In the summer of 2023.
Didn’t succeed.
it had darted away
at full speed.
Alice stood looking after it,
almost ready to cry
with vexation
at having lost her
dear little fellow-traveller
so suddenly.
Since then.
Since then.
The front line has been.
Moving in ‘orcs’ favor.
With Ukraine suffering.
With Ukraine suffering.
A series of painful losses.
In the eastern Donetsk Oblast.
‘However, I know
my name now,’ she said,
‘that’s some comfort.
Alice – Alice –
I won’t forget it again.
And now, which of these
finger-posts ought I to follow,
I wonder?’
Both Kyiv and.
Its Western partners.
Now acknowledge that.
Now acknowledge that.
A liberation.
Of ‘elves’ land.
By force of arms is.
Unlikely in the near future.
As U.S. officials propose.
Ceasefire deals.
That would leave.
Millions of ‘elves’.
That would leave.
Millions of ‘elves’.
Under ‘orcs’ occupation.
Hopelessness is creeping in.
What shall Cordelia do?
Love, and be silent.
What shall Cordelia do?
Love, and be silent.
“It’s scary.
People are thinking about.
Options of what to do.
If it happens.”
She says of a ceasefire.
That would leave.
The occupied lands.
Under ‘orcs’ control.
“Many people despair.
Many are trying to decide.
How to live.
Under the occupation.”
Then poor Cordelia!
And yet no so; since,
I am sure, my love’s
more richer than my tongue.
News from the front line.
Brings no comfort as well.
As ‘Mordor’ continues to.
Raze and capture.
As ‘Mordor’ continues to.
Raze and capture.
New villages.
One by one.
“Sometimes it seems that.
Behind all those headlines.
About territories.
And kilometers.”
“Some forget that.
These are all people.
Lives, homes.
Destinies,” she says.
Nothing, my lord.
Nothing.
Nothing, my lord.
Nothing.
As it’s capturing.
More ‘elves’ land.
‘Mordor’ is also tightening.
Its grasp.
‘Mordor’ is also tightening.
Its grasp.
On the occupied territories.
According to her.
The occupation administration.
Has ramped up surveillance.
With increasingly common.
Security checks.
And more cameras.
In the streets.
And more cameras.
In the streets.
“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!”
Even the initial advantage.
That Mavka held.
— that ‘orcs’ soldiers would not.
Suspect women to be.
— that ‘orcs’ soldiers would not.
Suspect women to be.
Resistance members —
Has lost its edge.
As the occupiers grow.
More careful.
More careful.
She says.
“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.
It is hard enough to fight.
Against overwhelming odds.
In constant fear.
In constant fear.
It is harder still when.
Hope is in short supply.
In spite of this.
The Mavkas fight on.
“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,”
Talking about what.
Keeps her motivated.
Keeps her motivated.
She says laconically,
“Somebody has to do it.
It just happens to be us.”
“Somebody has to do it.
It just happens to be us.”
Although layered with melancholy.
Her messages reveal.
A sense of purpose.
And perseverance.
What shall Cordelia do?
Love, and be silent.
What shall Cordelia do?
Love, and be silent.
“The power is in the people.
Each of us has the power to do.
Something to help this world.
From a leaflet to big decisions.”
“In the world’s seats of power.”
She says in a message.
From occupied Ukraine.
To the free world.
Then poor Cordelia!
And yet no so; since,
I am sure, my love’s
more richer than my tongue.
“We are here.
And despite everything.
We continue to resist.
Because evil must not win.”
“Please fight with us.
And for us.”
“We continue to resist.
Because evil must not win.”
’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!’
*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 ‘KING LEAR’ written by William Shakespeare and ‘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
