"When Winter Passes" - A Poem (In Honour of Ukraine)

When Winter Passes

Last night, before 

Sleep would overtake us,

Mother sang us a lullaby.

Her chant was soft and sweet,

And her words would repeat

That when winter passes, 

Dandelions will bloom,

And when that happens, 

We should make a wish 

Under the shining moon.

That wish is bound to come true

If our fate follows.

Today, under a concrete ceiling,

In our mother’s lap, we hear

All of our neighbours pray,

Both foreign and dear. 

They’re people just like us,

Driven out of their homes,

All of them seized by fear.

Winter is passing, and yet we feel cold,

Out in the streets, with no place to go.

Mother sings not, only prays for our dad,

And all the other women pray for other men.

In just a day, what has changed? - I wonder…

My sister Anya is too young to understand.

I can’t say I’m old enough 

Since I couldn’t follow dad

When men went to defend us, or so they said.

I wanted to help, but dad told me: “Stay here,

Protect your mom and sister, 

Until I come back.”

I believe he’ll come back, 

But why does my heart still shiver?

I don’t know what’ll happen…

Will we ever sleep

Under the stars again?

Will mother ever sing

Her lullaby again?

Will anything go back

To how it was back then?

Winter has not passed,

And dandelions don’t bloom.

Yet I still look up

At the concrete ceiling

Beyond which I hear

Thunder in the sky.

But instead of droplets,

It’s a missile rain,

That deafens our ears.

I hear people’s prayers,

And I make a wish

Even if it’s not spring yet

And the moon cannot be seen,

That this night ends

And then, when the sun rises,

My father and men return.

I wish that when it happens,

There be no more thunder

And no missiles for the rain.

No mist of fiery powders

Overshadowing the stars,

And no cries of pain

Or those of alarm.

All the while I pray,

I sit here and wonder

Since it’s a black day

Why does no help

Come in our way

As was promised to our land?

Or so the elders would say…

So, where are they?

Mother always said

That in unity lies strength.

Maybe, if they come,

We can finally stop

This deafening missile rain,

And quell our aching pain?

If they never do come,

And it proves an empty promise,

I’m putting my whole fate

In this wish that I’ve made,

And trust wholeheartedly

That, by Lord, we’re saved…

P.S. My solidarity for Ukraine and its people in these hard times. 😢💙💛 The news has been devastating. My prayers are with the Ukrainian people.