G-D bless the ones who have never hurt a fly
Who know they could, but don’t want to
Bless the ones with no violent bone in their body
But who do have a spine
Bless the tender ones, the silly ones, the nerdy, the insecure
Bless the teens and seniors and in betweeners
G-D bless the scared ones
Bless the teachers and plumbers and computer programmers
The writers and musicians and taxi drivers and tax advisors
Bless the fathers and brothers, the sons and sisters and friends
Bless the daughters and mothers
Who have no bloodthirst
Who get no thrill, pleasure, excitement
Sense of belonging or self-importance from the fight itself
And still
Stand in line for hours in the cold
Their city under fire
To join the fight
Precisely because they do belong
Because this is their home
Whether they were born here or immigrated here
Whether their skin is dark or light
Whether they live in a large house or a small apartment
They will not give in to bullying
They will not betray their home
Neither fear
Nor
Lust for violence compels them
They simply do what they must
Bless the ones who stay and defend
Once all possibilities of peaceful resolution have been exhausted
They are all
So exhausted
Their minds have hundreds of valid reasons to flee
But they are compelled by their hearts
They stay because anything else would offend their own soul
Bless the defenders of freedom
Bless the ones who know that in war there are no winners
That this is not football
Or a coliseum
Bless the ones who know there aren’t even any teams
The ones who see brothers on the other side, not enemies
Bless the brothers and sisters of integrity
Who conduct themselves respectfully
And who will not tolerate disrespect
Bless the ones who know who they are
Who claim their space, and allow others theirs
Bless those who are willing to fight and die
For freedom, truth, and love
Freedom for Ukraine
Freedom for Russia
Freedom for all
Jaclyn Edds Konczal | February 26, 2022