War photoThe Ukrainian Charge Of The Light Brigade
An altered rendering of the famous poem The Charge Of The Light Brigade in honor of the recent Ukrainian push to retake the Crimea which was stolen from them by the Russians in 2014. (with apologies to the original author Alfred Lord Tennyson)
I
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward
Unexpected into the fray
Rode the Ukraine warriors
“Forward we who were formerly prey!
Smash the tanks, drone the fiend!” they cried
As into their retrieved lands they ride
They the mighty Vengeful.
II
“Forward the Vengeful Ones!”
Was there a man in doubt?
For all there present knew
That their aim was true.
Theirs was to make amends
Theirs was to repatriate
Theirs to expediate
Into the Russian horde
Rode the Vengeful Ones.
III
Tanks before them,
Cannons to right of them,
Drones above them,
Snipers in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they drove and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the Resilient ones.
IV
Shot their weapons fully
Aimed their volleys truly
Targeting the enemy accurately,
Charging an army, while
All the world wondered.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reeled from the bullets stroke
Shattered and sundered.
Yet on they advanced and yielded not
Brave, vengeful ones!
V
Cannon to right of them,
Artillery to left of them,
Machine gun ahead of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While plane and hero fell.
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death,
To take back what was truly theirs
All that was left of them,
Left of the Ukrainian besieged
VI
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Ukrainian besieged,
Noble 44 million!