Driven to Madness

15 months after Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Officials seek opportunities to steal,

While soldiers earn double for lives, they reveal.

Ribbons, crosses, balloons, and stars they don,

Drowning their souls with debauchery's song.

 

As thousands lay sick, wounded, and deceased,

Fields filled with bodies, a sight that won't cease.

Buried haphazardly, lime masking the smell,

The aftermath's horror, too dire to tell.

 

Yet, the savages lead, their thirst uncontrolled,

driven to madness, their hearts growing cold.

Love's light retreats for years untold,

Generations corrupted; their spirits sold.

 

 

Alla Antsis

June 1, 2023

Reviews

[Arundass TP]

A powerful and distracting scenes out of war. Good war poem.

[Alla Antsis]

Thank you for your review and comments, Arundass!

[red93]

Really Excellent Alla and it is good to see real anti-War Polemics on the Cafe. In times like this, Poets must speak out and be bold with their Truths ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Alla Antsis]

Thank you for understanding, encouragement and compassion! Appreciate your review, Red93!

[red93]

Excellent ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Stephen]

Last 4 lines are adorable and deep. Certainly, one of my favorites now... that makes me save your poetry in my library.

Looking forward to reading your work.

[Alla Antsis]

Thank you, Stephen! Appreciate your review.
Alla

[jacob erin-cilberto]

This world is so filled with madness these days.
and there just isn't enough love to go around and make it better.
And the spirits that are sold....at what cost?

This is a very powerful statement...i like your "buried haphazardly" line...

but nothing you write is "haphazard"---
it has depth of meaning and message...you are not only accomplished as an architect of buildings, but also of poetry.
j.

[Alla Antsis]

Dear Jacob, I was away for a while and just seeing your amazing review today. Much appreciate your comments…Your words of the accomplishments are too kind and warmly received by my heart. Tank you much for that!

[Betty Hermelee]

The big wigs display disgusting behavior while the poor young soldiers lose their lives in a prolonged horrendous war, where millions are displaced and those that chose to stay are living on the edge in misery....your poem is all powerful and the rhyming is perfect...
Nice!
Warmly,
B.

[Alla Antsis]

Betty, I was away for a while and just seeing your comments. Thank you for your awesome review and your sincere compassion and understanding.

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome Alla
Warmly, B
PS do you live in NYC? I just bought an apt on East 69th and 2nd Ave… maybe our paths can cross!

[Alla Antsis]

Betty, I live on UWS opposite of you.

[Betty Hermelee]

I grew up there and then in high school. Moved to east side.. I’m in the process of purchasing….. when approved I’ll let you know….
My home home is near Asheville NC but my whole family lives in the city!

[Lydia Shutter]

Flawless rhyming and powerful imagery in every line. Stay safe, Alla. Lydi**

[Alla Antsis]

Thank you for your awesome review, Lydia!

[Coyote Poetry]

I went to five war zones. The children eyes. Not the eyes of the children.
"Love's light retreats for years untold,
Generations corrupted; their spirits sold."
The above lines. A sadness, so many must learn. Thank you Alla for sharing the powerful and worthwhile poetry.
Coyote

[Alla Antsis]

Someone like you who experience the first hand the horrors of the war can definitely feel the pain and suffering much sharper…. Appreciate greatly your comments and sharing the sadness… Thank you for that.

[Bhuyanshi Talukdar]

This poem is a powerful reflection on the horrors of war and the way it can corrupt even the noblest of hearts. The imagery is vivid and haunting, and the emotions it evokes are raw and unflinching. The poem is a reminder of the terrible cost of war and the importance of working towards peace.

[Alla Antsis]

Auza,
Thank you very much for your comments and your connection to the sadness, horror and pain this war brings to many. We all hope for an end to it but for many the piece cannot come soon enough.

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Alla,

I would like to say that you have written wonderfully beautiful words ... But they are totally truthful in their horrendously disgusting impunity of telling the wages of war just they way it does exist and forever shall stand ... You would make an excellent Journalist in a world where Journalism is all Yellow and full of S**t ... But not you, for you speak only words of truth ... Very few people who claim to know about War, and all it does entail, are aware and speak of the very means by which the stench of human decomposing bodies in the battlefield and streets is duly dealt with: LIME! ... My heart's hat is off to you, young lady ... Please do continue to stand and stand strong ... Never flinch from telling the gory truth just the way it really is in real life of innocents loosing their lives as sacrifices of the Corporate owned American War Machine, & that merciless Bear that once unleased is the wrath of Mother Russia ... You have my support!

Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn de Graham

[Alla Antsis]

Thank you for your review and support, Marvin! Much appreciated! Will be back soon with the new work next month.

[emmajoygreen]

A poem that brings the horrors to light.. however frightening, however evil. Your stanzas each touch on the hell of war, the aftermath streaming on and on, leaving scars. The world helps, the world lays its own rules, gives what can but somewhere negotiations reach a point where the hell to go, what to do now. You show that desperation superbly, yet leave tears in its wake. Thank you for being you.

[Alla Antsis]

Emma, much appreciate your response and support! Thank you!

[emmajoygreen]

You surely know how welcome your comments are!?

Wishing you a fine week and gentle dreams.

[Alla Antsis]

Sending joy!

[emmajoygreen]

.. and still it continues.. tragic and worse.