Take Aim at the Kindergarten

Take Aim at the Kindergarten

Just another group of children in a school

That is the aim of the terrorist without a rule

No military targets are in the area nearby

The drone was sent to ensure that children die

Just another episode of calculated genocide

Along with sustained attempts at senicide

Civilians are the targets that are identified

Ignored by a nation that abhors feticide

Small children are trapped in a burning shell

Rescuers must brave the terrorist-created hell

Carrying youngsters clear of debris and dust

Watch for falling beams to avoid being crushed

Just another episode in Putin’s illegal war

How much longer can the rest of the world ignore

How warped is the mind targetting the child

Why do we watch as humanity is defiled

Children cough and choke in the confusion

Whilst some claim there must be no retribution

Instead they now only talk about surrender

Adding insult by rewarding the offender

How do we now value the life of a child

We are standing by as humanity is defiled

Shame on us all if we choose to ignore

The evil spreading from this cancerous sore

Copyright: David Hopcroft November 2025

The Real Father Christmas

The Real Father Christmas

Flashing lights outside the streets of stores

The invitation to come inside to discover more

Plastic snowmen and candy canes along the street

Dancing elves waiting to greet at every door

Bohdana and Anna looked on in awe at the sight

How different from their village back at home

Where their own small home now lay in ruin

The Orc had destroyed it with a bomb

Outside the first store a notice was displayed

An invitation to meet Santa Claus

For $50 a child received a special gift

And could sit on Santa’s knee for a while

Photos were taken Copies just $10 more

At Di’s Superstore Santa had elves on either side

Special offers to enter into the Grotto

Only $30 but card payments only please

A free glass of Mulled Wine for parents

The queue was already forming fast

On Main Street Santa was there with his sleigh

A ten minute ride for $100 to make your day

The reindeer with their bells are waiting patiently

Presents galore stacked high upon the seats

Only one per child if you please

Ruslana looked on with her precious girls

Her husband Fedir and his brother no longer there

Buried beneath now frozen soil at home

Each grave a symbol of the hatred of the bear

This seemed to be a world unaware of care

The girls passed by slowly with their mother

They needed food and shelter not glitter

Further along the street they turned into an alley

The smell drifted from the window

A notice in chalk was scrawled on a board

Which simply said ‘All welcome inside’

An old man offered each a bowl of soup

A large chunk of bread with real butter

Then a sight to cheer their eyes

Presenting them with a plate of mince pies

As dusk fell they could hear the band

Playing Christmas carols in the square

Folk stuffing themselves with drink and cake

The old man gave them blankets to keep warm

Took them to a room where they could sleep

His wrinkled face still gave a cheery smile

Then he turned to go where others awaited

The children looked into Ruslana’s eyes

‘Who is the old man?’ Anna and Bohdana asked

‘He’s the real Father Christmas’ she replied

Copyright: David Hopcroft December 2024