Poetry Friday, Week 8: Remembering An Unwanted Anniversary

2/24/2023

Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference is hosting Poetry Friday this week. She's sharing a found poem by her daughter and reminding us about patience versus kicking-butt.

Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko Monument. Saint Petersburg, Russia January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

.This week marks the unwanted anniversary of Russian invading Ukraine. Last Saturday, the interstate bridge over the Columbia River had many out in support of Ukraine with flags and signs.

As one of the prompts of Laura Shovan's Poetry Travel, a different photo was shared about Russians honoring victims of from the January bombing. Sometimes the best I can do is to find a poem in the news. I found this article at Reuters.

Found Poem from “Russians lay flowers at improvised memorials to commemorate Dnipro dead”

Remembering the Dniro Dead

laying flowers
at the monument
to Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko
improvised memorials
victims of a Russian missile attack
people were still unaccounted

One ribbon read "Forgive"
universal human values
compassion, goodwill, grief
one way or another
this shouldn't become normal

©2023, jone rush macculloch

Invitation: April 14, 2023 Classic Found Poetry Palooza

9 Comments

Tabatha

2/24/2023 01:09:38 pm

This war definitely shouldn't become normal. Nice image for your Classic Found Poem Palooza

tanita

2/24/2023 02:23:50 pm

I very much appreciate those of you who can put words to this anniversary -- I love that using found words from others was where you found yours. You used them to good effect.

Carol Varsalona link

2/24/2023 04:51:29 pm

Jone, it is difficult to imagine that the war is continuing even with all the publicity that the word brings to light. Your poem's last line is the truth. The Classic Found Poetry Palooza ad is striking and inviting.

Linda Mitchell

2/25/2023 03:13:51 am

Amen and Amen! Thanks for honoring the sad and unwanted anniversary.
You know I'm in for a palooza! Cool idea!

Janice Scully link

2/25/2023 04:39:21 am

Heartbreaking news everyday and placing the news in a found poem doesn’t elevate it but helps manage it in some way through art. Thank you, Jone.

Denise Krebs link

2/25/2023 09:03:32 am

Jone, thank you for the found poem, with a powerful message. Your going to the news in remembering this unwanted anniversary is a powerful way to honor the Ukrainians who are going through this so bravely. Yes, "this shouldn't become normal."

Linda Baie link

2/26/2023 07:37:27 am

I think of them all every day, the men and women who a little over a year ago were going about their own regular living days, not anymore. It should not become normal but right now, I guess it has become theirs. It's a great found poem, Jone, full of sympathy.

Kay McGriff

2/26/2023 12:38:02 pm

This is such a powerful found poem. It’s hard to imagine what the last year has been like for those so much closer to the war.

PATRICIA J FRANZ link

2/27/2023 12:36:43 pm

Perhaps found poems are the best we can do when attempting to make sense of tragedy