Her name is Iryna
From Kharkiv in Ukraine
She is sheltering in a monastery
On Romanian terrain
Three days it took to get here
Husband left behind
She has her children with her
The war is so unkind
Now at rest and safe at last
Iryna goes to pray
She prays for president Putin
That he be wise some way
To cease from the fighting
To lay all weapons down
She prays for her enemy
In this quiet Romanian town
I sat today as usual
Waiting for my bus
A quiet day no bombing here
No war nor any fuss
I looked down at my shopping bags
And suddenly realised
One blue one yellow so they are
Ukraine I’m on your side
Brian Fahy
29 March 2022
Erris Poetry 