2023

 

 

One whole day has gone

In the year 2023

And before long we can expect

To be into February.

 

It’s the month of lovers

And of the February-born

So, expect in the first fourteen days

A red and white storm.

 

The colours of Valentine

Will be dominant at this time

And especially the ladies among us,

Love will be on their mind.

 

 

There will be many holidays

In fact, today is one,

The next is Errol Barrow Day

And soon that will be gone.

 

Twelve I count in all

Ending with Boxing day

And possibly a next will be added

If it goes the people’s way.

 

Republic Day it could be

To honour Barbados the Republic,

To be the same day as Independence

Many say it doesn’t fit.

 

Merchants like these festivities

And we don’t have to ask why

But for those that are yet puzzled,

Sales go through the sky.

 

Before, it was mostly Christmas

With Independence and Valentine,

But then Mothers’ Day took off

And the others fell in line.

With this amount of activity

The year goes by pretty fast

And before you can say cock-robin,

Another year is past.

 

Plus, people are so busy

That a day seems rather short

And much of what they have planned

They are likely to abort.

 

One whole day has gone

And soon, two, three, four and five

And before the dust can settle,

Errol Barrow Day will arrive.

 

Then Good Friday and Easter

Not to mention Mothers’ Day,

National Heroes Day and Labour Day

Whit Monday’s next in the way.

 

Emancipation and Kadooment:

Both in the month of August,

Then our Independence celebration

With all its related fuss.

 

Yes, we are in November,

Christmas is just a month away

And immediately after Independence,

Count-down to Christmas Day!

 

Suddenly it seems, 2023 is gone

And with it, some loved ones too,

No different from the year before

As in the year 2022.

 

As we gaze across 2023

Full of dreams and expectations,

Let’s be aware of the thief of time-

His name is procrastination.

 

Go with God and He’ll go with you

No matter how fast or slow

And whatever the outcomes of 2023,

His inner peace you’ll know.

 

Stewart Russell © December 2, 2023