Uprooted, Tumbled, but Hopeful
For Roots and Branches Challenge
Recently, I feel displaced
Uprooted from both cultures
Muted in my expression
Conscious of what I say.
*
I fled my first country.
Russia felt suffocating
Limiting my freedom
Killing hope to thrive.
*
They’ve now taken my language away
Russian has become the war speak
The lingo of hatred and occupation
The language I don’t want to use.
*
US, my new home country
Used to be my aspiration,
Dreamy shining city on a hill
I wanted my son to grow up in.
*
They are destroying English for me,
Using it to divide and gaslight,
Making it into the language of hate,
Isolation, racism, and war crimes.
*
Fascism is rearing its ugly head again,
All over the world dictators think
They can easily dupe the masses
To rule, to rob, to kill in perpetuity.
With impunity.
*
How are we in this place again,
Less than a hundred years after
Two horrible, devastating world wars?
Is the violence gene humanity’s doom?
*
An expat with cut roots,
I feel lost and confused.
In a third country now
I’m safe but anxious.
*
And still, I am horrified but stay hopeful.
Have to be, for my son and his generation.
Hoping they will be able to break the spell
Of self-destruction, hatred, and gloom.
They need to branch off.
*
They do deserve a better world.
They have the right to live free,
Unburdened from our mistakes
And the elites’ unchecked greed.
*
I hope they will build that world.
I pray they’ll figure out how
To make the world safe and rich,
An Inviting and thriving home for all.
*
I hope they will have enough strength
To put down new roots and branch off,
Build a new society of content equals,
Confident non-violent humans.
About the Creator
Lana V Lynx
Avid reader and occasional writer of satire and short fiction. For my own sanity and security, I write under a pen name. My books: Moscow Calling - 2017 and President & Psychiatrist
@lanalynx.bsky.social
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Ditched - Index
This index is just for my subscribers. I finished and published this long story or short novella of 6,000 words recently. I tried to link all previous parts of the story in the next one, so if you went along you shouldn't have been lost. This index is just put everything in one place.
By Lana V LynxExclusive • 3 months ago
Comments (16)
My hopes and dreams too for the future generations.💗💕 We have the generation, some in their mid twenties now, that we had hope for. Old souls, our people said. Others talked about a spiritual theory of Indigo, Crystal, and Rainbow Children, having special, unique traits.
I’m Australian. I can only sympathize from afar. Potent words 🙏🙏.
Back to say congratulations on achieving the Honorable Mention with your amazing poem, Lana. A much deserved win. Well done.
Wow, this is wonderful! It will all be okay in the end. The peaceful warriors will persist and win, like you did with your poem. Congratulations!!
Wooohooooo congratulations on your honourable mention! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Congratulations, Lana. This is a beautiful piece.
Love this! Congrats on the HM!
Well said & excellent aspiration. So sorry you’ve had to uproot a few times.
A prayer, Lana: I believe that justice will ultimately prevail.
So beautiful how you expressed your feelings heart felt poem🌺♦️🌺
This poem is incredibly powerful. I appreciate how it starts out soft and careful, yet the opening metaphor lays out the whole struggle. The line "I fled my first country" is so gripping—it hits hard and was immediately tear-inducing. The strong epithets you used—turning Russian into "war speak" and "lingo of hatred"—made me feel deeply sad, and I understand why you'd distance yourself from it. The allusion to the "dreamy shining city on a hill" is heartbreaking, especially when you include your son. My heart aches for the burden you carry.
I'm nor sure if they would be able to do that, but if they do, that would be so wonderful. Loved your poem!
The US, Russia, Georgia and above all, you are in my thoughts and prayers as well. With you.
Pivotal work and yet heartbreaking. Great poem, Lana.
Beautifully-penned Lana! Your final two lines are powerful & eloquent! Stellar work! The youth are in my thoughts and prayers as well! 🙏🏾
Lana, this is a powerful work. It’s even more powerful because of your background, what you have experienced and where you have been. Señor this is one I am going to share with some of my friends. I would like them to read this because I feel what you have to say is very important and you are saying it in a manner that is clear and easy to understand.