Het Bonhe

Cherry

By marandina

Tue, 15 Mar 2022
  • 5335 reads
23 comments
 

Audio version at https://soundcloud.com/user-62051685/het-bonhe-mp3

 

Het Bonhe

 

As spring emerged from winter,

Russian scholars, teachers taught

the importance of the sky above,

peace was to be valued - a virtue.

 

Bouquets of bright, yellow flowers,

messages written in stengazeta

were carried as they held hands

and quietly declared “het bonhe”.

 

The tears of young children

now sting corrupt, empty souls,

watching hopes and dreams fade,

subjugated by lifeless autocracy.

 

In the distant yet near future,

the tyranny of bygone times

will be overwritten by freedom,

brick walls daubed in belief.

 

An Iron Curtain no more.

 

                                               

.

 

Footnote:

Het Bonhe is Russian for “No war” or "No to war" and is the banner of a protest movement in Russia

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/children-arrested-protests-moscow-embassy-war-russia-ukraine-b985596.html#:~:text=R%20ussian%20police%20arrested%20five%20children%20protesting%20the,also%20handed%20in%20hand-drawn%20%E2%80%98No%20To%20War%E2%80%99%20posters.

 

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220309/p2a/00m/0na/003000c

 

Image free to use at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doves_as_symbols#/media/File:White_Doves_a...(5778806606).jpg

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Spiritual

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Is 'stengazeta' a font of a newspaper? So sad to see the iron curtain emerging again. Hope many want friendly relations across it, and then fears can be discussed. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Rhiannon. Yes it's a font popular in Russia. I am not sure the Iron Curtain ever went away but the East/West divide may become a chasm again. Paul

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Very moving. I hope your son is reconsidering - it must be such a worry for you!

 

Submitted by marandina on

Oh thank you for reading it. My lad is absolutely fine. He's not particularly affected so far by what's happening in Ukraine. Of course, the events in that country could envelope us all if the leaders involved don't see sense soon. In the meantime, thoughts go out to all those directly impacted by the war. The whole thing is about as grim as it gets. Paul

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thank you for the cherries, ABC Eds. Much appreciated. Paul

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Those poor mothers, they will be feeling so guilty! I did not understand from the article if the children were still to be put in care? It sounded like the police were unsure what to do, to stay on the right side of the law. What a horrific thing to happen to young children. Someone on the radio today  said the newsreader who held an anti war poster up on Russian tv was treated leniently now as authorities were waiting for publicity to die down. I do hope the children are allowed to stay with their parents and do not have to grow up afraid to think. Thankyou for raising this again. Does your son feel in Russia now that there may be a diplomatic breakthrough soon? It sounded hopeful to me on the news today, yet Kiev is under that extra long curfew so must be expecting things to get even worse

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Di. From another article I read, the children were released to their parents after a lawyer intervened. I think protesters in Russia are just let go again following a detention of some kind.

My lad is more Russian than English these days having been there since Jan 20. He speaks fluent Russian and probably has a more balanced outlook than either side in this as we are bombarded with our own media bias. He also has many similar thoughts to our own about Putin but has to be careful what he says working in a school. He hasn't really said where he thinks this will all go. For me personally, I can't see how the Russians can bankroll this for much longer. The country is already creaking financially and the protest movement is getting bigger and louder by the day. Even Putin can't defy gravity indefinitely. Paul

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I do hope, when it comes to rebuilding Ukraine, they are given the money, not loans. Your son will have such stories to tell :0) 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Yes, the IMF has already lent large sums to Ukraine ($1.3B I think) to help out. Needless to say, Russia will have a significant, financial obligation through reperations as their armed forcd have insisted on destroying entire towns and cities. I imagine my lad has many tales to tell already when he comes home :)

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Moving piece here, Paul. I've been trying to conjur up some words of my own, but it don't come easy. Keep fighting the good fight, brother.

Rich

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading it, Rich. I have tried to think and write about summat else but my thoughts always end up with Ukraine at the moment. Yes, we all keep fighting that fight, don't we? :)

 

Submitted by Frances Macaula... on

A salient piece, Marandina.  Congratulations on the cherries. Wishing all safe passage to peace. 

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF

Submitted by marandina on

Thank you for reading, Frances. There's lots missed as a consequence of the Ukranian Debacle. The impact on children and many Russians is easy to underestimate. Safe passage and peace - absolutely. Paul

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Good words about a terrible situation Paul.

I hope we see brick walls daubed in belief again soon.

I was interested to read about your son. I hope he keeps safe and well. Not all Russians are mad war-mongering dictators.

Good on you both.

 

p.s. You probably already know this but НЕТ ВОЙНЕ is pronounced Net Voyneh. They stole the Cyrillic alphabet from Bulgaria together with many of our words. Here it's Няма война (Nyama voyneh).

 

Turlough

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading, Turlough. Yes, I was wondering about the correct pronunciation. Of course you are right about Russians in general. Keep well. Paul

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Paul

Lovely poem and very pertinent for these times. We can but hope.

Jean Day

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Jean. Hoping you are well. Paul

 

Submitted by celticman on

flowers inside an iron curtain. still an iron curtain. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading it, CM. I guess so but you can't put an Iron Curtain inside every child's mind.

 

Submitted by Ewan on

In Russian, “Нет войне” is pronounced "nyet voinye": strictly speaking - and also even better - the "voinye" is the dative case of "voina" so it means "no to war"

не за что.

A very good poem, much to admire.

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Ewan. Trying to get across the protests in Russia and the Insidious attempts to censor children's thoughts and beliefs. The politicians can take most things away but not belief in an idea if the concept is strong enough. I guess the notion of "freedom" means a lot to many of us. Paul

 

Submitted by David Kirtley on

Some great words in this balanced and wise poem. I haven't entirely taken it all in yet, but I do think this is a very hopeful and strong poem. Russia deserves better than this tinpot reactionary, and I am sure a nation of such beautiful music, art and culture, cannot be restricted by this man forever!

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, David. Yes, I Hope Russia can recover from the current leadership and restore its historical values. Paul