old man

An old man in the Kremlin
whispered in his generals' ears
the words they wanted to hear

            A young man in Kyiv
            had already resisted
            the U.S. president's
            very unusual demands

go forth, my friends!
conquer the land in the south
you will be our people's heroes

            he called on his people
            all men, young and old
            fight for your country now!
            or no country will you have

go forth, my dogs!
bite and destroy and kill
until they submit to our might

            eight years they had fought
            back and forth, so many dead
            not wanting to fight the bear
            not wanting the bear to win

the old man in the Kremlin
wanted back his country's glory
ignoring what others might want

            writing history
            with bravery ink
            defending their families
            defending their land

armies did what armies do
kill and rape and torture
advance and retreat and destroy

            weapons came from the West
            courage from the hearts
            persistence in fighting the bear
            that would destroy their homes

      nobody knows the future
            not the young man in Kyiv
not the old man in the Kremlin
            Ukrainians learned from the Cowardly Lion
the old man could learn from the Scarecrow
      armies destroy, never build