by Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet

Putin, What Will Your Legacy Be?

A recent Moscow protest of the war on Ukraine. Photo by Valery Tenevoy on Unsplash.

Putin, What Will Your Legacy Be?

How did you use

your position, influence, resources?

Did you exercise your power

to enrich yourself,

to oppress your fellow citizens,

to be above the law?

Or did you use your power

to uplift humanity,

to build a world

with opportunity for all,

to be an example

of integrity and courage?

What will your legacy be?

Will you leave behind

roads, hospitals, universities?

What are you known for…

justice, peace, progress?

Or are you infamous?

Are you the one who

invaded his neighbor,

committed war crimes,

ruined his nation’s economy,

silenced protests and media,

ignored pleas for peace?

Do you think

no one will notice?

Do you think

no one will remember?

Eventually, you will be known

as you truly were!

Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia

61 Comments

  1. A tell telling poem and sadly he seems to care about nothing other than his ego mania self.
    I had a thought that the only reason he would stop it now is so in his eyes he would be a hero but I don’t think he has one bone of remorse. Nicely penned Cheyrl! 💖🌻🌻🌻😢🙏🙏

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Thank you, Narayan, for sharing your thoughts. ❤ Your kind comment means a lot to me. Hope you are doing well.

      Some younger Russians have figured out how to overcome Putin's block of social media, and some information and photos get into and out of Russia. I found many photos of Russian protesters on Unsplash. Protests In Russian cities are being suppressed, and thousands of protesters have been reported as "detained."

      Many people from both Russia and Ukraine live in our area, and my next-door neighbors are from Ukraine. Her mother and brothers are still there. I feel very sad for them. My late husband's family originally came from Russia and Poland.

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  7. such a powerful thought provoking piece Cheryl … if only he would read it!

    What is happening is totally horrid and uncalled for … but karma will catch up. Meanwhile those poor people are being pounded mercilessly 🙂

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    1. Thank you, Kate, for sharing your thoughts. I agree with you. All that is happening is beyond belief! It has been reported that some in Putin’s administration are seeking to remove him from power. If that is true, I hope they succeed. Take care. ❤

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    1. Frank, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Your kind comment means a lot to me. ❤

      I don't think historians in the rest of the world will have a very positive view of Putin. Hopefully, he will end up on the ash heap of history in Russia too, along with Stalin.

      Happy spring! When do you return to the beach?

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      1. I’m with you … the majority of historians will not place his in the high praises category. But with Russian historians? I’m just not sure. The beach? We returned home from their 2 weeks ago. I’m sorry to say that during our time there, home had a major ice storm. I can honestly say that I’m not sad for missing it.

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  10. Cheryl, I do hope he stops and thinks of the legacy he will be leaving. But he is on his own trip. This is such a powerful write, I do hope all leaders will think before they do a Putin in future.
    Take care. ❤️

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    1. Punam, I do not think Putin will ever willingly retreat. I heard on the news today that Italy may seize his $700,000,000.00 yacht. That would feed his hungry soldiers in Ukraine and a lot of hungry Ukrainians too. I hope he will eventually be tried for war crimes. As you say, I hope no other leaders decide to “do a Putin.”

      All the best to you and your family! ❤

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    1. I totally agree with every word you said, Eugenia! The thing that worries me most is that he might be desperate enough to use atomic, biological, or chemical weapons. There seems not to be any such thing as cutting his losses!

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  13. This is a powerful poem, full of anguish! That’s so natural, looking to Putin’s recalcitrant attitude. War has no legacy, Cheryl, it gives only destruction. I resonate with every single word of your poem 💐💖💖

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    1. I think your initial reaction is correct, JoAnna. Putin caring is a very faint hope. He seems to be in a war he cannot win, and he could save so many lives if he would end the war now. His own soldiers are hungry and about half are suffering frostbitten feet. I saw a video tonight of desperate Russian soldiers looting groceries from a store. I heard on the news that if Putin quit right now, the Russian economy would still be reduced to half what it was before the war.

      As bad as all this is, I would still like for Putin to read this poem! Maybe it would be “the straw that broke the camel’s back!” Thank you so much for your thoughtful, hopeful comment. We must always hope! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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  19. A thought provoking poem,Cheryl. War is never the answer to a problem but seeing the loss of lives, I wonder why Ukraine cannot back out- is being a NATO member worth a country being destroyed?

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    1. Thank you, Smitha, for your thoughtful response. I believe that the NATO issue is on the negotiating table. Zelensky has said that Ukraine will agree not to seek NATO membership with some provisions being made for defense.

      Putin has been taking over smaller countries by force in an attempt to rebuild the former USSR. He had previously seized Crimea from Ukraine. Now, Putin has invaded Ukraine, a sovereign nation, without provocation.

      I believe that Ukraine wanted to join NATO because NATO members would help to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty. Ukrainians are fighting for their continued existence as an independent country. As you say, they are paying an awful price!

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      1. Thank you, Cheryl for explaining the crisis- the current situation and the background so well. Putin’s actions are undoubtedly wrong- his plan to bring back USSR, a dream he sees alone, at the expense of other sovereign nations, but Ukraine becoming a NATO member would mean allowing all of Europe to have their military on Russia’s border. As Ukraine has decided to step back, so must Russia agree to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty. It’s unfair that so many innocent people have been displaced or lost their lives because of decisions taken by their leaders. Thank you again, for talking about this issue – it shows that no matter where we are, we care.

        Liked by 1 person

  21. Sadly so. And for him it’s too late to make amends. He already showed the world who he is. Like words out and alive when spoken, his acts cannot be undone. Gosh, poor man is doomed.
    Thanks for sharing, Cheryl. xo

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  22. No say on this. As political matters are nowhere in my system. I have never understood there motives. On the human part, its disgusting to kill the fellow human. I wish peace prevails sooner on this planet.

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  23. Peace is one thing we all want and can agree on, Kritika. ❤ Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I have both Ukrainian-American neighbors and Russian-born family members. It is hard to see both of them suffering.

    ❤ Have a great day!.

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