For Such a Time as This

She is not my favourite person,

Understand that I mean the PM

But I must confess I am impressed

With her handling of this problem.

I do not say this grudgingly

But I had to paint the background

So you’d understand that I write this poem

From my heart, and deep down.

With some things, I don’t agree

Considering her over all rule

But I get the clear impression here of late

She is being the Master’s tool.

I need to turn to the Holy Book

And from there explain to you

Why, contrary to my previous position,

I now hold this present view.

In the book named after a queen

Here are some words you should not miss:

“And who knows whether you are come to the kingdom

For such a time as this?”

A foreigner in the land was she

And her people were held captive,

A decree was sought from a certain source

For her people to die and not live.

When she heard of the wicked scheme

She placed her life on the line

And ventured to talk to the king

Though uninvited at that time.

To make a long story short

With the help of God, she succeeded,

And the conspirators of the wicked deed

Were utterly defeated.

The name of the queen was Esther

For the Jews she saved the day,

By simply following her spiritual advisor,

She was able to do it God’s way.

Too often we look at the person

Instead of what’s vested in him

And because of our personal preference

Our perspective of the situation is dim.

 

Who knows whether Mia Amor Mottley

Has come to our Parliament for this?

For while I have a preference for male leadership,

In Parliament, there’s a dearth on my list.

So let’s put aside our differences,

Be they political, gender or otherwise,

And together, for the betterment of Barbados,

From our selfish agendas arise.

There is much, too much at stake,

To ignore the work that’s being done,

So, together with our hardworking PM,

Let us march to the beat of the drum.

Maybe, just maybe,

 She has come to the kingdom

For such a time as this.

Stewart Russell © March 2020