Happy Poetry Friday!
As many others I have also had Ukraine and the Ukrainian people on my mind this last week. This unfounded War is an attack on Democracy everywhere. I wanted to help in some way and researched various charitable organizations that are supporting Ukraine in different ways. I just sent a donation to the Sunflower of Peace Foundation, they’ve started a separate campaign to support the Ukrainian people via humanitarian and medical support, you can read more about them and make a donation here.
I’m also sharing a couple links/articles talking about other charitable organizations supporting the Ukrainian people.
–Ranzom Emergency Response:
“Emergency Response is the SOS button that is pressed in times of need. We created this project to provide urgent help and support in face of an extreme and unforeseen situation in Ukraine. Today, the sovereign nation of Ukraine has to deal with the most horrendous and catastrophic emergency – a brutal invasion. Razom is responding to this by providing critical medical supplies and amplifying the voices of Ukrainians. ” https://razomforukraine.org/razom-emergency-response/
–Want to support the people of Ukraine? These apps and websites can help you send money
The above article reviews these organizations:
–Red Cross
–Revived Soldiers Ukraine
–Voices of Children
–Army SOS
–They also list Ranzom and Sunflower of Peace
This article from Time Out lists both monetary and other ways to help Ukraine:
Five ways to help Ukraine right now in NYC
Here’s one more article with places to donate and info on them:
Here are 7 verified charities working to help Ukrainians amid invasion
Having a hard time wrapping my head around what’s unfolding… poems are coming out in short, staccato lines.
BESIEGE
Real-time war
Missiles attack
Ukraine’s fight
Refugees flee
Autocrat lies
Russians protest
Sanctions swell
Billionaires bellow
Democracy teeters
Ukraine’s persevere
Purposeless inhuman
Surreal-real WAR
© 2022 Michelle Kogan
Draft
democracy sieged
Ukraine’s scurry, missiles mount
determined hearts bleed
© 2022 Michelle Kogan
In the midst of all… Spring is coming, and I’m sharing a couple Spring Holiday Cards for Passover and Easter. Both have haikus on the reverse side, and are available in my online Etsy Shop.
The lovely Kat Apel is hosting this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup from Down Under, at her blog Kathryn Apel Children’s Author & Poet, thanks Kat! She’s sharing her beautiful new book that just came out this week, What Snail Knows. Many congratulations Kat!!!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Heavy hearts here, too, Michelle. Praying for the people of Ukraine. For the world. And trying to inspire kindness and empathy in my small part of it. Loving your rose tipped onion blooms.
Michelle, thank you so much for including all these sites to help people of Ukraine. I have been praying. My emotions go from horror, to anger, to sadness, to empathy, to … Words jumble in my mind, which I know I need to write into a poem to help me deal with this heinous atrocity. Your poems are full of emotion. These lines jump out to me “Real-time war”, “Ukraine’s persevere/ Purposeless inhuman/ Surreal-real WAR”, and “determined hearts bleed”. We are fortunate to be citizens of the USA. Your cards are beautiful and hopeful. Thank you for sharing. I love Kat’s idea of inspiring “kindness and empathy”.
Thank you, Michelle for leading us and all with art. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this war as well. I’m a “cold war baby” and I really thought we had left all that behind. Now, it’s back in horrific magnified detail. Your poem perfectly describes all the “things” swirling in my head too. That teetering democracy–I join you in propping it up as best I can. What a mess. Love that Easter Bunny. Thank goodness there is goodness and hope somewhere!
It’s so heartbreaking and frightening. Thank you for dedicating this post to Ukraine and providing links were we can donate. It’s very helpful.
Thanks for the list of resources. Heavy heart here too. Not just a war against democracy but against humanity.
Yes, against humanity too!
Thanks for all the resources and for your poignant poem. I feel helpless. And it’s all too big to comprehend.
Oh, those “determined hearts.” I hope they know how hard we’re hoping for their success!
Flowers even come into your “heavy” poems, Michelle (bleeding hearts). Thank you for sharing resources!
Michelle, thank you for all the links and for your research. The short lines of your first poem show the quick movements and hourly changes for the people in Ukraine this week. The truth in this line breaks my heart: “determined hearts bleed”
Michelle, thank you for putting into words what I have been unable to. Your poem captures the feelings I’m having.
I share your anger, outrage, heartache this week… Amidst the list of aid/donation opportunities, I’m reminded that the Ukrainian people also need our art, our poetry – which is simply an extension of our hearts and a way to let the world’s hope reach them. Thank you for your poem.
Michelle, There is such a juxtaposition to your post. The joy of your beautiful cards is opposed to the grief and anguish of war in your poem. Thank you for all the resources available to offer assistance to the people of Ukraine too. They are in my thoughts and prayers, as are well all.
Thank you so much for sharing the many resources for helping those in Ukraine. My heart is heavy as well, and it’s hard to know how one can make a difference. These links will help. The short lines of your poem definitely underline its somber tone. Thanks for creating in the midst of darkness — both poetry and images.
Yes, our hearts are so weighed down these days, Michelle. Thank you for your list of resources of where we can make a tangible difference.