Alive in Ukraine

[FranktheFrank]

Barley soup again with two bread rolls. After eating,
we stand to chant in unison, 'Thank you for the meal,'
in Ukrainian as demanded by our Ruski captors.

We're allowed one call to the Motherland. I shuffle
up in the queue. The man in front grabs the phone.
He struggles on one leg, the other rots in Karkiv.
He takes an inordinate amount of time. Weeping
drifts out from an earpiece 'Be quiet Mama, he says.
I can't say, Mama. Be glad I'm still alive and well.'

The guard nods approval then pokes him to move
along with his Malyuk. I'm next. My call
is unanswered. Utter desolation envelopes me
in a deep longing for Babushka at the dacha.

[BobBradshaw]

Nice one. Probably cut the line “In Ukraine”…. The title tells us that. I like the simple language in this. Good close.

[FranktheFrank]

The Russian prisoners have to gives thanks for their meals,
Bob, but must use the Ukrainian language.
It is Ukrainian, not Ukraine in L5. Thanks :0)

[BobBradshaw]

Ah… didn’t know they were Russians. How would the reader know they’re not Ukrainian soldiers? And, I wonder, if it matters… it’s a universal theme.