Ukraine, A poem by Louise “Lee” Fraley (Covington, VA)

Ukraine
The snow falls softly in the night upon the ravages of war
and upon a people
yearning only to dine
on the blessed ordinariness
of lives they once took for granted.
As do we.
And taste once again the sweet wine of freedom.
But at least the snowfall is silent,
Unlike the thunderous roar of the rockets
That now engulf their very unordinary lives.
One year into the relentless carnage
there are no conquering heroes here;
only heroes who refuse to be conquered.
How long must they endure?
For some, forever comes swiftly,
Their fight ending in a heartbeat.
While others are left to mourn them,
knowing their own forever
may be only a heartbeat away.
And they gaze at each other and whisper
“May your skies be silent tonight.”
Louise (Lee) Fraley
Covington, VA