Devastation of Kharkiv

 

Devastation of Kharkiv

The warning came, along with, the loud chilling sound,

Тусуватися! "Hang Out!", meaning, get underground.

Followed by the terrifying din, received with great disdain,

As the shrill, of the "Air Raid" siren, loudly sounded again!

Five precious minutes, to get their children, underground,

People desperately retreating, with great danger inbound.

The entire city closing down, any stragglers in dire straight,

Driven down, into the dark subterranean vaults, to wait.

Awaiting the wrath, the abrupt warning, would pre-empt,

Angry comments creating unity, and patriotic discontent.

Suddenly, all hell let loose, as huge blasts, sounded overhead,

Guided missiles, filling the people, with overwhelming dread.

While the gigantic explosions shook the city’s foundations,

Thousands sheltered, in the metro’s, underground stations.

Anxiously waiting, for more hypersonic missiles, to arrive,

While fearing the worst, could happen, being buried alive!

The bombardment of Kharkiv, continued for weeks, all told,

Women and children, huddling together, hungry, and cold.

Then the survivors emerged, to survey, the damage wrought,

Unable to grasp, the devastation, from the barbaric onslaught.

Eyes open wide, mouths left aghast, their besieged city gone,

In its place, mountains of burnt rubble, and contorted iron.

Grim survivors, surveying, their shattered neighbourhood,

Here and there, badly battered structures, defiantly stood.

Feeling lost, their sentimental belongings, totally destroyed,

Now homeless refugees, lives thrust, into wars painful void.

Their hospital lay in waste, were the sick, and dying had been,

They openly wept, and solemnly reflected, on the grizzly scene.

Unable to hold back, the raw emotions, and the terrible pain,

Wondering the mountain, of putting their lives, together again.

And now, these are the people, who have endured the worst,

Filled full of hatred, and bitter revenge, toward the cursed.

*tусуватися! (tusuvatysya)