John Baldoni's Blog

Poetry is the art of getting to the heart of 

the matter.

It gives structure to ideas that are often overlooked or ignored, but nonetheless must 

be explored.

Poetry puts thoughts into verse in ways that make tough subjects approachable and accessible.

Leadership, too, is about reaching the heart. 

as well as the mind.

Leaders are called upon to address challenging issues and act with candor and courage to address them.

Poetry can be a siren song for action.

Leadership can be those songs put into action.

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What do you want people to get from reading your poems?

This question was posed to me by a colleague, and I will admit that it threw me. I can tell you what I hope people will learn from my nonfiction books and articles because, to quote Marshall McLuhan, “the medium is the message.” I write about leadership themes that are explicated with research, stories and prescriptions. My work provides the how in what it means to lead with purpose, communicate with conviction, and connect for community.

Not so with my poetry. Or so I thought. I know why I like writing poetry – writing concisely, using similes and metaphors, playing with language, and shining a light on everyday life. Poetry allows me to “cut to the quick” of an idea, a story or an image. I am an observational poet. I write about what I see.

Poetry spans that chasm between experience and understanding. And as such it becomes a medium to explore what it means to lead and by extension to live. Toward that end, I have put together a new collection of poems I call Leadership in Verse.

And being one who has spent over three decades writing about leadership—as well as teaching and coaching it—I know I still have some observations to share. 

What We See

These are observations of management that we see around us in good times and in bad. Leadership is about making a positive difference. The difference becomes obvious when we look around at the world as it is, rather than how we wish it to be. Too often, we see overlook – or turn the other way – when problems arise. It is important to take blinders off and examine what is truly happening.

Burnout[

Gnawing emptiness pervades.

Fatigue without perceived exertion

Endless hours of sameness.

Hour upon hour.

“It’s like being drunk,” they say.

If so, there’s no comfort. No high.

Just exhaustion.

What took an hour may take a half-day,

Including time spent staring.

Worse. A loss of what and why?

What am I doing,

And why am I doing it?

Motions for the sake of motion.

Burnout.

How We Act 

These are a set of leadership thoughts and actions that come in handy in times of stress.

Looking for ways to make a positive difference is the challenge everyone faces. 

It is easy to become discouraged when the change we seek meets resistance. 

But then, if it did, then perhaps it would not be worth our effort.

Resilience

Yes, I can.

So simple to say when things are going well.

Not so easy when…

Your project has been cancelled.

Your team has been disbanded.

Your boss, whom you like, has been transferred.

Your job has been eliminated.

So hard then when fortune turns to misfortune. 

But when you realize what happened to you,

It’s not you,

Then you can decide your next move.

Slowly. Deliberately. Carefully.

Maybe not as strong as before,

But adding muscle with every move you take.

How to Inspire

Poetry can open our minds and hearts to possibility. Here’sI where you cite the example of John O’Donohue, an Irish poet.[SM2] 

May the Blessing

Philosopher-poet John O’Donohue wrote reams of poems.

Many were blessings.

As befit his previous priestly calling.

Each line of his blessings begins with “May.”

May you think freely…

May you feel the ground…

May you know you are loved.

And so forth.

May is the intercession between

Mother and child. 

Pastor and parish.

Leader and follower.

May is a door opener.

Invoking it says, “Are you listening, Lord?”

Or to whomever you are addressing.

May is a kind word.

An invitation, as the French would say, to “parlez.”

To have a conversation with a Higher Power “up there.”

Or a “higher power” down here.

May is a good word.

One of full of grace.

Smiling as I write this.

As children, we asked for intercessions from

Mary, full of grace.

May we all find more mays.

May the light snuff out the dark.

May despair lose to hope.

May sorrow drown in joy.

May. May. May.

In this same vein of hope and grace, I include a poem about Frances Hesselbein, the founder of the Leader to Leader journal. Her life story exemplifies what it means to lead with strength, bravery, and heart. When she led the Girl Scouts of America as the greatest CEO he had ever met. Frances was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Here is my remembrance of her.

Life Lesson

“To serve is to live,” she taught us.

We listened.

And wondered how.

So,

She showed by example how to

Listen with an open heart.

Stand tall for what’s right.

Understand differences 

Seek common cause

Be grateful

Find joy in work and play.

In short,

To love.

Making Poetry Work for You

“Poetry is an echo asking a shadow to dance,” wrote Carl Sandburg. So, pick a poem or a series of poems and consider what they say to you. 

• What do these poems/stories say about us?

• What insights into yourself do they reveal?

• How might you change how you think and act when it comes to making the choices that matter most?

The answers you give are yours. You can share your thoughts with others who have read the same poems. It does not matter that you agree. What matters is that you express yourself and, in doing so, connect with others in ways that illuminate what makes us what and who we are. 

To sum up, what do I want people to get from reading my poems?

Insights into the human condition that may provoke you to second-guess your preconceptions. Doing so may make you think again, appreciate what you have, or laugh a bit more.

Simple really. But let’s not delve too deeply into the what’s, wherefores, and whys of poetry. Best to let it speak for itself.

First posted on Leader to Leader Insights 4.08.2026

A leadership thinker uses poetry, reflection, and inspiring real-life stories to explore the heart, courage, humility, and grace needed to lead well in difficult times.

In a leadership market saturated with data-driven frameworks and “hustle” culture, John Baldoni’s Leadership in Verse: Poems & Stories arrives as a necessary, soulful intervention. Baldoni, a veteran coach and author, pivots away from the cold mechanics of management to explore leadership as a fundamentally moral and relational practice. This is not a manual for performance; it is a meditation on the human spirit under the weight of responsibility.

The book’s distinctive strength lies in its tripartite structure, which guides the reader through a process of diagnosis, discipline, and demonstration.

In the first part, Baldoni strips away the corporate euphemisms that mask workplace rot. He addresses the “unspoken” realities of burnout; the corrosive nature of ego; and the hollowed-out isolation of virtual disconnection. By naming these shadows, Baldoni forces a confrontation with the truth: institutions fail when their leaders trade responsibility for moral evasion.

The second part offers the remedy. However, Baldoni’s “tools” are not KPIs or spreadsheets; they are virtues like grace, humility, and solitude. He argues that the integration of character and conduct is the only way to remain grounded under pressure. Through poetic compression, he makes abstract concepts like “blessing” and “resilience” feel like practical, daily disciplines. The use of verse here is a brilliant tactical choice; it slows the reader down, demanding the very reflection that modern corporate life often stifles.

The final part cements these ideals in personal and historical stories. Baldoni recounts lives of figures ranging from Robert Redford and James Lovell to Jimmy Carter and Abraham Lincoln. These are not idealized case studies but portraits of “character formed through suffering.” They illustrate that leadership is a habit of service, not a status of authority.

Baldoni’s central thesis is clear: effective leadership begins with self-leadership. One cannot enlarge others without first mastering the ego and confronting one’s own cowardice or pride.

Leadership in Verse is an essential read for executives, managers, and coaches who find themselves weary of abstract advice that ignores the emotional toll of the modern workplace. It is a rare book that offers both a “searching diagnosis” and a “humane perspective.” For those navigating the fog of organizational change or the exhaustion of burnout, Baldoni provides a mirror and a compass, urging us to lead with a depth that is as moral as it is imaginative.

Printed Word Reviews 5.02.2026

“Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.”

That comment comes from T.S. Eliot, the St. Louis-born banker turned poet. In his first career, he experienced the working life that so many of us labor in. In his second career, he discovered how to express what he observed in ways that challenged conventional thinking.

Writing about leadership in poetic form is hardly new. Homer told stories of hubris and lust, as well as of courage and patriotism, in his great works. Shakespeare, of course, wrote in verse. His histories profile the virtues and vices of kings and their struggles with power. More recently, David Whyte has created a genre of poetry about organizational life and leadership.

My new collection of poems – Leadership in Verse — is intended to provoke reflection about what leadership is and is not. Some poems and stories typify the ugliness we see around us. More, however, depict what it means to lead others in tough times. Leaders are those who apply what they know to help others succeed. They are not altruists per se; they are practical women and men who see their role as making a positive difference.

Here’s a poem that captures – sadly – the zeitgeist of our times.

Fire ‘em

“Now, they just fire ‘em,” he said.

“Used to provide severance. No more.

“They just cut ‘em, kinda like pro football.

“‘Cept they don’t get hurt at least on the outside.

“On the inside, it’s a different matter.

“Been working 10, 15 years, then out on their asses.

“That hurts. Some of them find work real fast.

“Others, not so fast. 

“Regardless, they don’t bounce back so easy.

“They feel left out. And they are.

“None of them did anything to deserve it.

“They were good workers. Some of the best.

“Yeah, it’s different now.

“They just fire ‘em.”

Another focuses on the challenge of change – and how we interpret for ourselves.

Transformation

So often in movies

There is that moment when the hero.

Facing impossible odds

Suddenly decides to take action.

The camera pulls back.

As the music crescendos

Revealing the hero standing tall.

Hurrah!

We smile

Secretly hoping to hear that same music.

Poetry, too, can sum up what we feel about those who have inspired us.

Pastor

That is what he saw himself as.

And how he wanted the world to see him.

Not as regal, not as exalted, but as a shepherd

Tending souls, not sheep.

Souls who wanted counsel and guidance.

Not sheep who would sit in silence.

He was a shepherd who would seek out those.

Whom so many shunned.

Because they were different and

“Not like us.”

Understanding was his hallmark, 

Mercy was his trademark.

He was one who ate in a dining hall.

Stood in line to get his own meals.

Sitting with others, not apart from them.

Sharing. Joking. Laughing.

His name was Francis.

Be specific

Poet Deborah Paredez, who teaches literature at Columbia, told me in an interview that “Poetry really does insist on the specificity even as it talks about grand themes, even though it might be about love or about disaster or something like that. The way it gets us to open our eyes to those things is by the very specific moment or the very sort of perfectly rendered metaphor.” 

Poetry, by nature, works to get at the essence of meaning. It does so quickly and efficiently in ways that connect us to who we are and what we wish to become. In that way, poetry becomes a metaphor for leadership, creating connections, furthering understanding, and showing us a path forward.

First posted on SmartBrief.com 4.01.2026

Ritual! It’s a word that we are familiar with but seldom take the time to define. To many, a ritual is a habit, something we do regularly, like exercising, meditating, or attending a concert. Regularity may be inherent, but rituals carry more significance.

“Ritual is a way of making invisible things visible,” says Casper ter Kuile. “I mean feelings like gratitude, hope and awe. It’s about embodying them —attaching a feeling to a practice.”

Ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual, told Lauren Jackson of the New York Times, that “Rituals often do three things. One, they tell a story. For example, religious rituals retell a mythic narrative, like the Exodus story for Passover and the Last Supper for the Eucharist. They embody stories that our ancestors wanted us to remember. Two, they can help with transitions — birth, death, marriage, divorce. Three, they change us in some way. They do so by interrupting us, whether from our incessant drive to productivity, or from the monotony of February.”

“Rituals are important for our mental and physical health,” says Ter Kuile. Participating in an activity, like singing, can lower cortisol levels and reduce stress. In turn, the ritual can improve how we feel about others and ourselves. 

Creating a ritual

How to create a ritual? According to ter Kuile, you consider what you want to do, how it affects you, and its impact on others. That said, rituals may be private activities for one’s own benefit, or they can be communal for the enrichment of all.

When selecting a ritual, think about what it means to you. 

• Does it remind you of what you hold significant in your life? 
• Does it resonate with memories in childhood or later? 
• How does it make you feel when you engage in the ritual? 
• How does it make you feel when you do not engage in the ritual?
• Is the ritual something you want to teach to others – friends, family or children?

On a personal note

Rituals have played a role in my life. For twenty-five years, I was a season ticket holder for Michigan football games. I enjoyed watching the game itself, yes, but more often I enjoyed getting together with friends at halftime and afterwards. These days I find ritual as a member of a band where most of us are north of 70. We practice weekly and have fun making music together. We have learned to listen to one another. 

In both instances, the rituals involved participation in a shared experience. Our reactions to what we had seen (the game) or heard (the music) deepened the experience with appreciation and joy.

Rituals are a matter of choice, but having them can be fulfilling. They add significance to our dailiness and depth to what we hold dear.

First posted on Smarbrief.com 3.04.2026n

Playing six or seven games a week

From late March to last day of September.

Omitting the exhibition season and possible playoffs

Including the World Series.

That few players, relatively, ever play in.

Major league baseball.

A dream of every kid who played it,

So they used to say.

(Maybe not so much now with so much else from which to choose.)

Life, goes the adage, is like baseball.

Day in, day out. You play to win.

To keep doing it.

Players and coaches together for months on end,

In clubhouse, on the plane, on the road,

And sometimes half the time.

They have been playing professionally this game

Since 1869. More than a century and a half.

Once the players were as White as their course woolen uniforms.

And not until 1947, 22 years short of the century of professionalism

Were players of color allowed.

No. 42 Jackie Robinson was the first

Today the league is as international with players from

Central and South America and the Caribbean as well as

Korea and Japan,

The game remains the same. Roughly.

One diamond. Four bases.

Nine innings. 27 outs per side.

One mound. One batter’s box.
Two dugouts.

Twenty-six players to begin the season.

Up to 40 after September, the pennant stretch you see.

15 position players.

Hitters. Fielders. And a couple of catchers.

10 or 11 pitchers – five starters, 

plus long relievers, set-up guys and of course the closers.

You can never have enough pitching.

So goes the saying.

Every ballpark is different.

No court or gridiron.

The outfield is as deep – or as shallow — as the owners want to make it.

Every park has its fans.

People with season ticket holders

And those watching their first major league game.

Bringing their glove along just in case a foul ball, 

Or better yet a homer is hit their way.

Major league baseball.

On television, yes.

On radio, sure – the best way to catch a game.

Baseball is pastoral. Its pace evokes its origins.

Suitable for storytelling. Between innings, between batters and 

pitching changes, of course.

Baseball is like life, or is it the other way, around?

Baseball is there.

162 games a year.

The challenge to lead is ever-present. Leadership in Verse by John Baldoni reveals how to lead in times of challenge and stress by providing courage, compassion and grace. 

“Poetry is a medium that appeals to leaders because it speaks to the heart as well as to the spirit,” says Baldoni who has authored 15 leadership books. “Leaders need time to reflect on what they are doing, why, and how they could be doing things differently. Poetry lends itself to asking such questions.”

The title — Leadership in Verse — could be interpreted in two ways. Leadership Inverse – when everything you do seems the opposite of what you should do. Or as written, Leadership in Verse – aspirations and behaviors put into meter.

The book contains three key sections:

What We See are observations of management that we see around us in good times and in bad. 

How We Act is a set of leadership thoughts and actions that come in handy in times of stress.

How We Act is a set of leadership thoughts and actions that come in handy in times of stress.

Poster graphics

Leadership in Verse contains a select group of poster graphics with words and images that provoke contemplation and reflection.

Leadership in Verse is Baldoni’s third published book of poetry. His recent book, Golf Lessons, was a No.1 Amazon release. Baldoni is the author of 15 books covering topics such as purpose, presence and grace. He is a globally recognized communications coach and keynote speaker. Leadership in Verse is published by Maison Vero.

Leaders looking for insights — and readers looking for inspiration — will find Leadership in Verse a worthy addition to their leadership library.

“I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor.”

These words are contained in a message from Pope Leo XIV about how to observe Lent, a Christian tradition marking 40 days before Easter. As a Catholic School kid, my friends and I marked the season by what we would give up – notably candy and maybe even a favorite television program. We were abstaining, that is, depriving ourselves of what we enjoyed.

Pope Leo inverts the concept of abstinence from deprivation into affirmation, namely, not speaking ill of one another. It is a more affirmative approach to marking the Lenten season. Doing so reminds me of Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address when hoped to avoid war by acting on “better angels of our nature.”

A century and a half later, American-born Pope Leo says, “Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves. Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities.”

Fasting may help focus.

Pope Leo does advocate fasting as a Lenten practice. Fasting is a tradition in the Abrahamic faiths and in other faith traditions. Depriving oneself of food can focus the mind on what is essential and what is spiritual. And it is the nod toward the spiritual that opens us to the possibilities of what it means to be more human, that is, more open to listening to others. [The title of his Lenten message is “Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion.”]

By focusing less on what we give up, the Pope is advising us to give more. Sharing with others goodness rather than bitterness. As our public discourse becomes more rancorous, we can become more generous. Very easy to say but hard to practice when we are constantly poked and prodded by messages rooted in difference and distraction rather than togetherness and attention.

Be positive

Johnny Mercer put similar thoughts into song with composer Howard Arlen, called “Accentuate the Positive.”

Gather ’round me, everybody/ Gather ’round me while I preach some

Feel a sermon coming on here…

You gotta ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive/ E-lim-i-nate the negative

And latch on to the affirmative/ Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.

You got to spread joy up to the maximum/ Bring gloom down to the minimum.

If we can heed the good words of Johnny Mercer and Pope Leo during Lent, then maybe we might extend the practice for the entire year, without, of course, having to give up candy.

Much of the management and leadership literature focuses on how leaders can draw on their best selves to lead their teams and organizations. We authors want to provide the positive attributes as they apply to communication, motivation, inspiration and management itself. Doing so gives readers insights into taking positive steps.

One exception to this category is Barbara Kellerman of Harvard Kennedy School. Her work on leadership, notably Bad Leadership and her newest, Leadership from Bad to Worse, casts a sharp light on the malignancy that occurs when leaders allow their dark sides to dominate.

 I can add another author to this list: Theophrastus, a philosopher who lived in the 4th Century B.C. A prolific author of poetry, plays, and philosophy, his book Characters illuminates the factors that plague not only leaders but the whole human race. He writes of foibles and behaviors that get us into trouble, if we do not exercise “better angels” as Lincoln counseled.

 Behaviors to avoid

Let’s focus on a handful of the 28 character flaws Theophrastus explores.

Dissimulation is “the artful disguise of words and actions, which proceeds from a bad intention.” Deceit lies at the heart of dissimulation. Such behavior erodes trust, the foundation of good relations with others.

Flattery is the practice of using “words and actions… to catch men by their weak side, and so to ingratiate himself into their favor.” Today, we call such behavior “sucking up,” and when we see it in action, particularly at work, we find it obnoxious, especially if the flatterer seems to have the boss’s ear.

Clownishness is “a want of knowledge in good breeding and common decency.” Bad manners, putting self before others, and ignoring courtesies put one at odds with others.

Nastiness is “such a neglect of a man’s person as makes him offensive to others.” Such behavior makes it challenging to work with or even be in the company of such nasties.

Pride is “a contempt of everybody besides oneself self.” We all know pride to be self-destructive, but all too often, the proud person is also consumed by hubris and cannot see past his own ego.

Cowardice is “a dejection of mind, proceeds from a fear of danger.” Cowardice is the absence of bravery. While it is easy to denigrate those we deem cowardly, introspection reveals that we may all suffer from these traits, especially when the stakes are high.

 Behaviors to emulate

Most of us (speaking for a friend, of course) can find traces of many of the negative behaviors mentioned above within ourselves. Acknowledging such deficits is how we begin to overcome them.

 Our Founding Fathers, notably the young George Washington, were attentive to both good and bad behavior. As a young man, Washington hand-wrote the 110 Rules of Civility formulated by the 17th-century Jesuits. In this spirit, here are five questions to ask yourself about your behavior.

 How much energy do I expend in proving my point rather than listening to others?

How well do I regard colleagues with whom I disagree?

Why do I like to think of myself as being better than everyone else?

How well did I pay attention to what my spouse told me this morning?

What can I do better tomorrow and the next day to bring out my better self?

 Knowing yourself is essential to leading yourself. Such self-knowledge focuses the mind on the behaviors we need to become the best version of ourselves. Accurate self-awareness is cognizant of our shortcomings and the means we need to employ to keep ourselves on the right path.

 Note: I want to acknowledge an essay by Joseph Epstein in the Wall Street Journal that brought Theophrastus to my attention.

First posted on Smartbrief on 1.07.2026F

[Setting: College commencement as the featured speaker takes the stage.]

Thank you one and all. May I make one point of order?

This is not a commencement address. It’s a conclusion address. You all are leaving here. And will commence with the remainder of what we all hope will be a long and fulfilling live.

So celebrate this moment. You have earned it!

Tradition calls for thanking your parents but looking out at the crowd, I see some folks in caps and gowns, which are way past living at home. You pursued your dream of gaining a degree when many of your peers in high school got theirs a decade or decades ago. I salute your determination and diligence.

This is not a commencement address. It’s a conclusion address. You all are leaving here. I hope you will commence the remainder of your life – a long one, but you are concluding one of the most significant parts of your short life.

Second, few of you will remember anything said to you today by anyone on stage – the president, the dean and least of all me.

Third, celebrate this moment. Tradition calls for thanking your parents but looking out at the crowd, I see some folks in caps and gowns, which are way past living at home. You pursued your dream of gaining a degree when many of your peers in high school got theirs a decade or decades ago. I salute your determination and diligence.

It’s All About You

Now let’s cut to the chase… the purpose of this speech.

It is where people like me share their stories and insights into the secret of a good and useful life in the hope that you, too, will live a good and useful life.

The fact that you are here today is an indication that you have been helpful. You earned your degree, did your coursework, and put up with requirements you thought were ridiculous, but now that you have met them, you think they are not so bad. 

Some of you will enter the workforce right away. Others of you will enter graduate school – where requirements may seem even more ridiculous. You will persevere.

Three Lessons

And that’s the first lesson I want to share—perseverance. Stick to it. Without determination and drive, you will accomplish very little—unless, of course, you were born to wealth or win the lottery.

The second lesson is discover the “good life.” Robert Waldinger and Mark Shultz, directors of the Harvard Study on Adult Development, authored a book with the very same title —  The Good Life. This book based on upon the longest running study of happiness in worldexplores what makes a happy life. Drs. Waldinger and Schultz conclude that the secret to having a life with meaning and joy is relationships – good relationships with people who matter most to you.

Relationships are built upon connection through birth or proximity—school, work, or neighborhood. Personal connection—as those who majored or minored in psychology know—is essential to human growth, what we like to call now “flourishing.” When you are with people who add meaning, purpose and joy to you, you will find true wealth.

Relationships are not a one-way street. They require commitment, being there when needed and giving to and giving back when the need arises. Don’t wait to be asked. Just do it.

My third and final lesson for today is to show grace. Grace is the catalyst for doing good. Be grateful for what you have and more grateful to those who have helped you. Act with kindness toward others, including those you don’t particularly like. Avoid pettiness. It only drags you down. Remember, you are not in middle school anymore. You are an adult.

Be Kind to Yourself

Show grace to yourself. Give yourself a break. You will make mistakes; many of you are like me. Pick yourself up. Learn from what you did wrong and work to correct it. But never, ever lose faith in yourself. That’s where grace comes in. Grace is a gift without strings, but when you are in a jam, pull all the strings you can.

And one more thing. Remember the magic words you learned in kindergarten. When you ask for something, say, “Please!” When you receive it, say, “Thank you!” Now commence and live your life powered by perseverance, blessed by grace, and laden with joy.

First posted on Forbes.com 5.15.2024

After Pablo Picasso received word that Nazi dive bombers, flying on behalf of Franco’s Nationalist forces, had destroyed a city in the Basque country of his native Spain, he was inspired to memorialize the devastation. 

The result, a huge mural on canvas, would become a commemoration of the horror of modern warfare.  

He called his work, “Guernica.”

Today we see the equivalent of Guernica live on round the clock news.

Images of roads pitted with craters.

Bridges ripped in half.

Buildings crumbling in two.

And everywhere people scurrying.

The lucky ones, that is.

Too often we see the detritus of missiles and bombs.

Not dropped errantly, but purposefully.

By forces possessed by hell-knows-what.

Bodies and scattered like broken dolls

Cluttering the streets and sidewalks

That only weeks ago were bustling with life.

Today they are spattered with blood.

And haunted now.

We see packed trains headed West to safety.

Crammed with old people. 

Who have known war and likely thought they would never see it again.

Young women, mothers mostly, holding a child or two,

Shepherding others.

Weighted by what they could carry in a suitcase.

Or maybe a shopping bag.

Interviews with refugees.

Now sheltered across the borders.

In Poland they are greeted with 

Water, food, and toiletries.

Poles, whose people have known centuries of war,

Take the newest refugees to their hearts.

And into their homes.

The men remain home. 

To fight.

Rallying to the cry of Glory to Ukraine.

Outmanned. Outgunned. 

Not outfought. Or outbraved.

The image that sticks is the video of a young boy.

Maybe six years old. Walking alone. 

Crying, crying, crying.

Overcome by the moment. 

Sent ahead into a foreign country.

He is walking to safety. 

A word meaningless to him.

Alone and crying.

A metaphor for a nation savaged by war.

Walking, for the moment, alone.

Note: Reuters reported that the boy’s mother was in a group just behind the little boy so presumably the two were reunited.

First posted in March 2022