One Hundred Thousand Lives Ago Poem by Gert Strydom

1
In February a hundred thousand Russian lives ago
families in Russia was unbroken,
the decimation of Ukrainians unspoken,
where now the world do Russian atrocities know.

A hundred thousand lives ago no tears did flow,
the hatred in Ukrainian hearts were un-woken,
where civilian people are now somewhat broken,
as Putin did a hundred thousand lives to death bestow.

Russians do know of dead children, brothers and fathers,
of three hundred thousand severally maimed
and on still the war go as if Putin's bloodlust
have no end to it, as if like their forefathers,
they are bound to a dictator's will and shamed;
as their tanks and destroyed weapons rust.

2
God only do of the last thoughts in hearts know
before frail human beings are turned to dust,
how a nation to a maniac did their lives entrust,
that do the most vile evil on others bestow,

while in his mind his ambition vividly glow
and in Ukraine people to survive, do what they must,
do to endless missiles and shelling adjust
and the great anger and Russian hatred comes slow,

where only blood, sweat and tears brings victory,
the endless graves do with the beloved fill
and nothing can make this evil undone,
as they wish to free from Russians forever to be
and to the Lord of lord's they pray still
where knowing the full injustice He is the only one.

[Poet's note: More than a hundred thousand Russian soldiers have died in the war in Ukraine.]
© Gert Strydom