We Are Feeling Their Pain

The last world war was taught to me at school as history.

I wasn't alive to see it.

I wasn't alive during the second world war.

I wasn't there to feel the build up of tension.

I wasn't there to feel the tension around its causes.

...I wasn't alive then.

I wasn't alive to feel the dread, hurt and loss felt by those displaced by this war.

The hurt the people felt who saw their countries destroyed 

the hurt the families felt over their slaughtered loved ones.

The irony of this world war was that this world war was another world war,

following the war known as 'the war to end all wars'.

This was yet another war in Europe.

We thought another world war involving Europe could never happen again.

We were wrong.

Now the shadow of war has darkened the edge Europe once more.

Horror amidst the 'bon-accord'

war in a time of co-operation and peace.

A war brought to us on our personal electronic devices.

War delivered to a screen in the very palm of our hands.

The internet bringing us endless rolling news

showing us sanitized footage of war on Europes edge.

Edited scenes of death and distruction

for us to switch on and off as we like.

The anguish of Ukrainians is live on our screens

live from bunkers

cowering people sheltering underground

mothers in tears trying to escape

fear writ large across their faces

telling their stories

clinging tightly to their children

telling us about their blackened lives,

behind their blacken faces,

wearing their blackened clothes.

I now know about Ukraine.

I know more than school had ever taught me.

I know the names of its cities.

I know its size and geography.

I know its main exports

what it produces and the names of its leaders.

I would recognize its president. 

I can book holidays I have no intention taking,

connecting with people I'll never meet.

I can donate them money.

I can send my love and my support.

Sending them money with which they can help support the war within their ravaged communities.

This war,

a war they didn't want and don't deserve,

this war I am living. 

We are living this war and we are feeling their pain.