From time to time
I have dared to offend
But I did so, not in contempt,
But as a true friend.
There is nothing, I say,
Like a really true friend
Especially when so many
Drive us ‘round the bend.
It is true, in my opinion,
We fret up too much
And complain every day
About having bad luck.
But this Independence
I en fretting muhself
Cause I come to the conclusion
Fretting does only ruin yuh health.
And besides,
This could be the last Independence Day
If some people I know
Get to have their way.
Barbados National Day
Could replace Independence Day
Once the timing is right
And de people have no say.
There I go,
Offending people again,
But yuh know sometimes it is difficult
To continue holding strain.
Sing the following, if you can,
To the tune of “God Bless Bim”
And if it sounds really great to you
Post me a grin!
God bless Bim
On Barbados National Day
On Barbados National day
On Barbados National Day.
God bless Bim
On Barbados National Day
God bless Bim
We hope and pray!
I was wondering
If it could be done with the change of words
And guess what?
To me it sounds kind of absurd.
But we too opposed to change
And that is why we does fret
Though we can’t really tell if it would work
If it hasn’t been changed yet.
Though, when it doesn’t work
We still don’t change back,
So, maybe we should leave things alone!
Tell them I say that.
But to be serious, though,
Whuh you tink ‘bout dis crime?
Let me tell you, it is so bad
People going out o’ dey mind.
And I don’t mean stealing
But I mean all this shooting!
And the more the authorities talk
The worse it getting.
It is like the shootists saying,
“Talk don’t frighten we.
We is do whuh we got to do.
Wunna keep talking and see!”
When de shotguns spray
Yuh could get hit with a stray
And that could be de very day
That in de dust you could lay.
It uses to happen mostly at nights
Now it does happen even in de day,
These shootists don’t seem to care
Who gets sprayed.
In busy places with people around,
In the country as well as the town,
Around schools and public vehicles too,
They behaving like savage hounds.
Independence or Barbados National Day
Means nothing to them
And the authorities appear clueless
Regarding this national problem.
COVID-19 almost gone
But there is another scourge!
It is guns in the hands of the trigger-happy
That shooting at the slightest urge.
It could be your last Independence
Or even mine
If either of us is caught by a stray bullet
From in front or behind.
Fancy an “Oops, I am so sorry,
That is my bad!
It wasn’t intended for you,
That is so sad.”
Meaningless sentiment
Does not bring back the dead
Or satisfy the remaining loved ones
Of the one taken out by lead.
So, “jar this”,
To use a young people’s phrase,
Enjoy this Independence Day
Because it could your last parade.
Stewart Russell © November 25, 2022
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