Could Be Your Last

 

 

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