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g emil reutter is a writer of stories and poems. Sixteen collections of his poetry and fiction have been published, most recently a poetry collection, Thunder, Lightning and Urban Cowboys. He can be found at: https://gereutter.wordpress.com/about/    

Shevchenko Stirs in His Grave

Shevchenko Stirs in His Grave

The bear continues to paw away at lines as the eagle
circles above never landing. The blue shield bends, but holds
as the world watches.

Shevchenko stirs in his grave

An angry little man who loves his mirror struts about Moscow
spews lies, hungers for the empire that shattered decades ago.
A little man in search of little Russia plays with soldiers as if they
are toys, each die in the name of his ego.

Shevchenko stirs in his grave

Crimea whimpers under the paw of the bear as the little man
dances, tanks pass through the old square. He ignores mothers
of Ukraine and Russia weeping for loved ones lost. He catches
his reflection, admires himself, puffs out his chest, wants
to be taller.

Shevchenko stirs in his grave

White Gyrfalcon ascends the blue gray skies of Ukraine, gold
trident pointed east, freedom the cause.

Shevchenko stirs in his grave

— g emil reutter

Taras Shevchenko is the national poet of Ukraine.

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