The Ukraine

The largest country that’s all within Europe,

Bounded by others on every side;

And as is the case with most states that aren’t island,

With many of them their long history’s been tied.

The earliest people who lived in the region,

Thirty-four thousand long years in the past,

Were later succeeded by tribes from all over

The lands east and west, where such movements were vast.

It’s heyday occurred in the time of St. Vladamir,

Prince of the powerful Kievan Rus state;

Three centuries later the land was fragmented

And rule by its neighbours by then was its fate.

Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire,

Poland as well ruled Ukrainian land,

With Russians and kings from as far as the Baltic

Joining and leaving the conquering band.

A Cossack republic was later created;

This lasted two centuries, then was replaced

By neighbouring kings based in Russia and Poland -

With new foreign rulers again they were faced.

Last century saw it twice gain independence;

Both were short-lived; in the end it became

A part of the Russian led Soviet Empire,

Though being independent was most people’s aim.

This came about only twenty-five years ago,

When the Soviet Union at last fell apart;

The Ukraine once again gained its full independence  

And it as a nation could make a fresh start.