The A1 Verse: The way is suspicious, the result uncertain

Every so often, a story published on the front page of the New York Times is so well written, meaningful, and appropriate to the Bulletin’s concerns that small snippets of it, properly chosen and arranged, produce something more than journalism, something that approaches … poetry. That blessed coincidence occurred February 14, 2022.

We suspect it’ll occur again.

Amid Threats, Ukraine Is Led By an Optimist

(from the original by Andrew E. Kramer

Russian
spotted buzzing
miles of borders;
last strands of diplomacy,
for a message of optimism
that now seems a distant memory
narrowed to tiny, uncertain options:
An invitation, a de-escalation,
a signal, said
an official
Ukrainian.