THE BITTER FRUITS OF WAR,

an anniversary, 2/24/23,

no causes to celebrate,

a year of calculated cruelty,

a war of consequence,

an anniversary of consequence,

one year of human folly,

power struggles over hegemony

and dominion, and empire

prevail,

human life, expendable,

ways of life broken realities.

Slavic brothers no more,

the Russians, the Ukrainians,

sworn enemies since 2/24/21,

dark times rule the day

in both armed camps,

the casualties, the dead,

the carnage,

the bitter fruits of war

soothed with propaganda.

2/26/23