The Bird of Azovstal
In Azovstal
the factory is falling
for weeks
the Russian army
has hammered
the forces within
civilians and
paramedics and
national guard
defenders
in the darkness
almost out of food
and water
tank and volley
artillery and air
bombardment
repeating
every five minutes
every three minutes
yet inside
the battered Mariupol plant
a woman is still singing
they call her
Ptashka “birdie”
or the bird of steel
but her name is
Kateryna
she is a music student
a combat medic
she is 21 years old
and she sings
"Sweeter to die in battle / than to live on as slaves.
Stars burn / but we will live forever."
Photo of Kateryna courtesy of @nik.mark.186/Newsflash
