Compassion's Joy - by David Clayton of Liverpool

Today we are posting another poem from our Liverpool exhibition Our Lady and St Nick's Church in late March 2025. Solia, Lviv, 16 years old painted "Cheka" in 2024, after Iryna was killed in the Kharkiv direction.

4/7/20251 min read

One of the last photos of paramedic of the volunteer battalion “Hospitallers”, and journalist Iryna Tsybukh, call sign "Cheka" and the joy of being with her companion.

On 29th June 2024, during a rotation on the Kharkiv front Iryna was killed.

"Compassion’s Joy"

To rise beyond minds comprehension To rise to songs of expectation

To rise above all that brings one down

To rise above our fallen nature To rise with meaning, purpose and adventure To rise above the unforgiving frown

To rise above hatreds that fester

To rise above our clouded sight

To rise again to clearer sight

To rise to face what is true and right To rise above our fallen dreams To rise with understanding tear

To rise with thankfulness for friends so dear

To rise to love that binds together Eternal truth, transformation forever and ever new begin new beginnings a new creation

To rise in joy and in laughter in tears and in sorrow

To rise and rise again to live and love again forever.

Compassion’s Joy.