"He “had no idea”.
That after achieving independence.
His country would one day be at war.
With his country’s closest neighbour.
He was “sure we'd be friends with our neighbours”.
“Trust me, I had no idea.
That our closest neighbour would turn out.
To be the most impudent and cunning one.”..."(Kurama)
"If it happens like in Chernobyl.
If it happens like in Fukushima.
A satellite city of the ‘Ring’ in Zaporizhia.
Energodar is always on a mission.
On 2 March evening.
Mayor of Energodar wrote.
“There were no shellings in our city.
There were no victims.”"(Kurama)
"Do you know what I asked?
Do you know what I believed?
Do you know what I counted?
Because a prisoner in Olenivka.
Do you know what I did?
Do you know what I earned?
Because a prisoner in Olenivka..."(Kurama)
"Keeping a stiff upper lip.
Dressing in black.
Now is the time for us to dance
our Graduation Waltz.
Keeping a stiff upper lip.
Dressing in white.
Here is the place for us to dance
our Graduation Waltz..."(Kurama)
"In the wordless war.
In the wordless world.
My land is alive on my toes.
In the wordless war.
In the wordless world.
My land is kicking on my toes..."(Kurama)
Kurama (Japan). «A poet in Kropyvnytskyi» — a poem about the russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022
"When there was a burial.
Of our pilots.
Two blue aircraft made a circle.
Above the city.
Five people were killed.
And another 25 were injured.
When missiles struck the central city.
Of Kropyvnytskyi..."(Kurama)
"He carries on farming as shells explode.
On the nearby frontline.
A boom, like distant thunder rolled.
Over the wheat fields due west of Slovyansk.
Perched on his seat in a combine harvester.
He could see clouds of smoke.
From missiles hitting an industrial area.
Then another, thinner plume from ‘orcs’ on the frontline..."(Kurama)
"Death comes quickly in the Donbas.
‘Orcs’ shells take mere seconds to land.
Recovering dead bodies of ‘elves’ and ‘orcs’ soldiers.
Killed in combat in the Donbas.
He has lost count of the bodies over the past five months.
He thinks it's more than 300, but he cannot be sure.
He and his men drive a refrigerated white van.
Marked with a red cross, to carry out their work..."(Kurama)
Kurama (Japan). «Poets in Vinnytsia» — a poem about the russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022
"It was a beautiful sunny day.
And she was smiling.
Pushing her pink chair.
In front of her.
Her pink pushchair lies on its side.
Smeared with blood on a strip of grass.
Outside the ruins of the Jubilee building.
On 14 July..."(Kurama)
"On the corner of Yablonska Street.
He was a welder who lived a quiet life.
His wife stands outside their destroyed home.
“I wish ‘orcs’ had killed me too.”
On the corner of Yablonska Street.
Her father stands in their destroyed home.
“I felt empty when they killed him.
I only wanted to die.”
On the corner of Yablonska Street..."(Kurama)
"Taxi driver and father of four.
He is the sole survivor in Bucha.
In the early hours of 24 February.
He was driving his taxi in Kyiv and heard explosions.
He struggled to believe it was actually happening.
His first thought that morning was to get the family's IDs.
If they were going to have to flee, they needed passports.
He quickly drove the 40km towards Brovary where they lived..."(Kurama)
"...I’m waiting for you to hear your voice.
I’m praying for you to read your words.
What a long long long silence is passing and passing at home.
Wherever you go now, I’m calling your name, my dear son.
Where do you go now? My hair is turning whiter, my dear son.
Wherever you stand now, I’m calling your name, my dear son.
Where do you stand now? My hair is turning whiter, my dear son."(Kurama)
"Be patient. Be patient.
Too much patient but not enough to see you.
Be patient. Be patient.
On my way from home to where you have a few days.
Be patient. Be patient.
Too much patient but not enough to call you.
Be patient. Be patient.
On my way through half of Ukraine by bus..."(Kurama)
"A few residents are trying to survive.
Among the ruins in Saltivka.
Shaking her head. A tear still under her eye.
“How many have been killed now?”
“And just boys, 18 years old.
They had only just begun to live.”
The frontline was less than 10 miles away.
There are fears that ‘orcs’ troops might return to Kharkiv.
A few residents are trying to survive.
Among the ruins in Saltivka..."(Kurama)
"He is a sailor from Mariupol.
On the morning of the invasion.
His brother-in-law's family fled
their home for the port city.
Half an hour after they arrived.
The first explosions the family heard far.
Before even finishing their tea,
they decided to leave Mariupol and escape..."(Kurama)
Kurama (Japan). «Poets in Kremenchuk» — a poem about the russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022
"One missile hit close.
While the other struck.
The mall in the centre of Kremenchuk.
“We were working.”
At 16:00 on Monday.
“We thought we were far away from the frontier.”..."(Kurama)
"‘Orcs’ captured the land.
‘Orcs’ captured, but she’s back to.
‘Orcs’ captured the land.
‘Gandalf the Green’ announced her release from ‘Mordor’.
“I’m grateful to everyone who worked for this result. Tayra is already home.”
“I know that everything will work out and we’ll all be home as I’m now.”
Tayra thanked ‘Gandalf the Green’ for his efforts to get her released.
Tayra and her driver were taken prisoner by ‘orcs’ on March 16.
The same day an ‘orcs’ airstrike hit a theater, killing around 600 people..."(Kurama)
"He lights two candles.
One is for his daughter.
The other is for her daughter.
Both were killed by an ‘orcs’ shell in Mariupol.
Every day in Vinnytsia.
At the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral.
Stunningly ornate.
‘My dear girls, time will come when we meet.’"(Kurama)
Kurama (Japan). «Poets on scorched earth» — a poem about the russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022
““In Lysychansk, if you are alive.
It’s a good day,” now almost in ‘orcs’ hands.
Leaving nothing but scorched earth.
‘Mordor’ is erasing history.
Some still trying to get out of their homes.
Rushing to board an armoured truck.
Scattering and ducking for cover.
At the sound of another shell...”
(Kurama)
"The true extent of the horror is hard to uncover.
The true existence of the hellhole is hard to uncover.
Telliing as her eyes water.
She fled Mariupol just two weeks ago.
With the help of her daughter..."(Kurama)
