Cold, Blow the Winds of War
An ill wind blows.
And so they march
to any border
but the border
that brings this madness
upon them, with nothing
on their backs
but sacks of sorrows,
the weight imposed
by clouds of war
come to life, their lives
in turmoil, their soil
no longer theirs.
This ekphrastic poem, inspired by Cauld Blaws the Wind Frae East to West, by Joseph Farquharson, is my response to Poetics: March Wind Ekphrastic, the prompt from Merril at dVerse ~ Poets Pub, which offers four poems as inspiration.
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Your wordplay excellently underscores the moral imperative and the urgency of action.
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🙂 Thank you.
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One of the most riveting poems I’ve read today … chilling and incredibly sad.
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Sigh. Thank you, Helen.
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Gut wrenching in its gravity, Ken.
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Sigh.
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Right to the point, gritty and real, a harsh look at the Baltics today, on the cusp of WWlll?
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Thank you, Glenn. Let’s hope not.
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You got right to the vulnerability of those losing their homes, possibly their homeland.
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Thank you. It seems unimaginable, yet comes as no surprise.
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This is so sadly and terribly real, and now — it pisses me off! But powerful piece Ken!
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Thank you, Rob.
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Sacks of sorrows..getting heavier every day. (K)
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Sadly so.
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How tough this can be: sacks of sorrows, under clouds of war.
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It seems impossible with democracy here, or in your Canada, but seeing an invasion live on the news reminds us just how possible it is.
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So sad Ken and so very frustrating that Putin pushes on! Sacks of sorrows is exactly right.
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Thank you, Carol.
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Deep empathy.. well said.
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Thank you, Steve.
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The story of humanity.
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Over and over, again.
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So very sad and heartbreaking. You captured the mood perfectly.
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Thank you.
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You are welcome.
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So tragic and so true, Ken. You captured the reality in your words.
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Thank you, Merril.
And thank you for the prompt.
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You’re very welcome, Ken!
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Ah, timely Ken, and carries the weight of this awful moment.
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Thank you, Paul.
It is indeed awful.
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Yes.
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Oh those sacks of sorrow! This is deeply poignant, Ken!
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Thank you, Sanaa. ❤
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I say exactly the same thing in that picture… you said it so well,
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Thank you. The news certainly keeps it fresh in our minds. I would not want to be a refugee.
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Our thoughts went the same direction with this painting…powerful and poignant, Ken!
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Thank you, Lynn.
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Powerful, to the point and poignant, Ken. This poem has the energy of something that had to be said.
JIM
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Thank you, Jim. Much of the news from Ukraine is distressing, but it’s good to see that the country is not just lying down.
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Tragedy personified in verse…your words really resonate in this powerfully humane poem full of empathy..
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Thank you, Ain.
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You have summed up this sad situation most succinctly and eloquently, Ken.
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Thank you, Ingrid. I imagine those in your part of the world are on edge at the moment.
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I think the whole world ought to be, to be honest! But it does feel as though a hole is being torn into Europe…
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This whole affair is unsettling. I would have said the line was crossed when the invasion began, but attacking nuclear power stations? That’s another line, entirely. It definitely raises questions about strategic intentions.
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It is concerning, to say the least!
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Well said, Ken. It is an ongoing nightmare.
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With lives in the balance. Thank you, Sara.
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