Lament for Ukraine

Hearts bleed with broken dreams, 
pain wracks not only bodies but the world.
The scream of missile trace 
drowns out the cries of hope;
clouds of building dust
and flames of acrid smell
fill the air with despairs offspring.

First cut of lies, dug deeper
not by the foe but …
supposed friend who turns a back,
hiding behind an acronym_
and like Pilate washes hands.

Strength for them and us, is the plea,
the prayer, the hope.  That they may live
and we may breathe deeply, take the risk
and proclaim in more than hopes and prayers
God lives, God cares, God acts
and so will we.