Het Bonhe
By marandina
- 4868 reads
Audio version at https://soundcloud.com/user-62051685/het-bonhe-mp3
Het Bonhe
As spring emerged from winter,
Russian scholars, teachers taught
the importance of the sky above,
peace was to be valued - a virtue.
Bouquets of bright, yellow flowers,
messages written in stengazeta
were carried as they held hands
and quietly declared “het bonhe”.
The tears of young children
now sting corrupt, empty souls,
watching hopes and dreams fade,
subjugated by lifeless autocracy.
In the distant yet near future,
the tyranny of bygone times
will be overwritten by freedom,
brick walls daubed in belief.
An Iron Curtain no more.
.
Footnote:
Het Bonhe is Russian for “No war” or "No to war" and is the banner of a protest movement in Russia
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220309/p2a/00m/0na/003000c
Image free to use at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doves_as_symbols#/media/File:White_Doves_a...(5778806606).jpg
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Comments
Is 'stengazeta' a font of a
Is 'stengazeta' a font of a newspaper? So sad to see the iron curtain emerging again. Hope many want friendly relations across it, and then fears can be discussed. Rhiannon
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Very moving. I hope your son
Very moving. I hope your son is reconsidering - it must be such a worry for you!
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Those poor mothers, they will
Those poor mothers, they will be feeling so guilty! I did not understand from the article if the children were still to be put in care? It sounded like the police were unsure what to do, to stay on the right side of the law. What a horrific thing to happen to young children. Someone on the radio today said the newsreader who held an anti war poster up on Russian tv was treated leniently now as authorities were waiting for publicity to die down. I do hope the children are allowed to stay with their parents and do not have to grow up afraid to think. Thankyou for raising this again. Does your son feel in Russia now that there may be a diplomatic breakthrough soon? It sounded hopeful to me on the news today, yet Kiev is under that extra long curfew so must be expecting things to get even worse
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I do hope, when it comes to
I do hope, when it comes to rebuilding Ukraine, they are given the money, not loans. Your son will have such stories to tell :0)
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Moving piece here, Paul. I've
Moving piece here, Paul. I've been trying to conjur up some words of my own, but it don't come easy. Keep fighting the good fight, brother.
Rich
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Salient
A salient piece, Marandina. Congratulations on the cherries. Wishing all safe passage to peace.
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF
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Good words about a terrible
Good words about a terrible situation Paul.
I hope we see brick walls daubed in belief again soon.
I was interested to read about your son. I hope he keeps safe and well. Not all Russians are mad war-mongering dictators.
Good on you both.
p.s. You probably already know this but НЕТ ВОЙНЕ is pronounced Net Voyneh. They stole the Cyrillic alphabet from Bulgaria together with many of our words. Here it's Няма война (Nyama voyneh).
Turlough
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Hi Paul
Hi Paul
Lovely poem and very pertinent for these times. We can but hope.
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flowers inside an iron
flowers inside an iron curtain. still an iron curtain.
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Um...
In Russian, “Нет войне” is pronounced "nyet voinye": strictly speaking - and also even better - the "voinye" is the dative case of "voina" so it means "no to war"
не за что.
A very good poem, much to admire.
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Some great words in this
Some great words in this balanced and wise poem. I haven't entirely taken it all in yet, but I do think this is a very hopeful and strong poem. Russia deserves better than this tinpot reactionary, and I am sure a nation of such beautiful music, art and culture, cannot be restricted by this man forever!
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