Looking Back

 

 

Hearing de National Anthem

I standing ramrod straight

 

I am a proud bajan

Some say poor great

 

At de Garrison Savannah

Back in nineteen sixty-six

 

See de playing field

In a such a muddy fix

 

Never see so much bajans

In muh entire life

 

All o’ dem wid one purpose

Independence not strife

 

There in dey numbers

Not caring ‘bout de mud

 

Packing in de Garrison

As many as dey could

 

Some walked for miles

Some come by donkey cart

 

A few come by motorcar

All bajans to de heart

 

 

For this very night

They had eagerly planned

 

Every one of them

Down to a single man

 

Was plenty activity

Then de moment come

 

 

We see Errol Barrow

What a great Barbadian son!

 

Standing like a soldier

Was a moment to brag

 

 

Down went de Union Jack

Up went de bajan flag

 

 

See de Broken Trident

Sitting on yellow and blue

 

Flying in de cool night air

What a splendid view

 

Suddenly de sky lit up

With a variety of colour

 

Announcing Barbados

World’s latest super power

 

That’s how we felt

Bajans through and through

 

Don’t get vex wid we

We just have to tell you

 

This is we nation

Built under God

 

From de top o’ de hills

Right to de earthly sod

 

 

We are a proud people

Of what we have achieved

 

Thanking God this very night

For what we have received

 

Meditate upon these words

Follow me as I pray

 

God bless this country

Every night and every day

 

With God we’ve come this far

With God we will survive

 

With God we will endeavour

With God we’ll ever strive

 

Thank you God for Bim

Save us Lord from all our sin

 

Stewart Russell © 2012

 

Thanking God

As I lie on my back

With my injured foot

I am thanking God for this window

Through which I can look.

At the sky’s azure blue

 And the fluffy white clouds

And the innumerable blessings

To me, He has endowed.

I thank Him for His goodness

And His mercy to me

For it could have been worse

Even a fatality.

I thank Him most gratefully

For the reduction of pain

Which for a week or so

Was driving me insane.

I thank Him for Lynette and Mike

Who minister to my needs

And for Lynelle when she visits,

I am grateful indeed.

For all my church brethren

I give God thanks

Knowing of their concern and well wishes

I can assuredly bank.

For family and friends

On whom I can depend,

I most gratefully thank God

For every blessing He sends.

For the rest, I am getting

And this time to reflect,

For all these blessings, Lord,

I humbly accept.

For the telephone calls

I am receiving every day

Lord, I give you thanks

For Your bountiful way.

For the visits from friends

Who drop in to share

And to those who take time out

To minister in prayer.

And for those Lord,

Who have me in their thoughts,

I give you many thanks Lord,

For the cheer that has brought.

And last but not least

Lord, again I thank you

For the view from this window

I am now looking through.

Stewart Russell © September 2019

Feeling Down

 

Daily I am reflecting

On my present circumstance,

Rehearsing the actual event

Of my recent happenstance.

Repeatedly I ask myself,

“But why did I not walk?”

“How I wish!” and “What if?”

Feature in my self-talk.

No, I am not mad

I am just feeling down

And not particularly interested

In being a clown.

Let me recount the details

Of my recent misfortune

Which I deem the real cause

For my present gloom.

While expecting Dorian

I attended a church service,

It was in the open air

Which I simply could not miss.

It was held at Kings Park

And all was going well,

But what was about to happen

I doubt anyone could tell.

We were one in our praise

As we celebrated in worship,

My tenor strains were perking

My voice was particularly fit.

It was such a blessed moment

Nothing could disrupt

But Satan had a plan

And his plan was to interrupt.

Sensing the Holy Spirit

I felt I would be called to pray

So I prepared myself

To take the trek that way.

My wife had felt the same

She sensed it would be me

So it came as no surprise

When so it turned out to be.

After some leisurely steps

I started off a running

Unaware at that time

Satan was out for me gunning.

I skated on the platform

Friction momentarily denied,

Gravity took over control

And my shoes assisted the slide.

At first, it appeared to be funny

But that was not for long,

Thrice I tried to get up

But simply fell back down.

My left foot was like jelly

It wouldn’t hold my weight

That is now the setback

In this unsuspecting fate.

Presently, I am feeling low

I would like to get around,

If only I had walked back then

I would not have fallen down.

Thrown across the platform

In my eagerness to pray

It is still baffling to me

Such could happen that way.

Now feeling down is not me

I am usually quite upbeat,

But now, often on my back

Feeling down is my treat.

Having longed for some rest

This is how it came,

Maybe I should accept my lot

And give thanks in Jesus’ name.

Easier said than done

Especially when one is down,

How I wish right now

I could freely move around!

The simple task of walking

Now is one of discomfort

But thank God for a family

That renders much support.

Many are the consolations

Yet, I am feeling down,

I guess it is our human nature

When upon us life frowns.

One of my pastimes is riding

From that I am now barred,

And I’d love to see my mother,

That too is quite hard.

I am also missing church

Where I often meet my friends,

These and more I must say

Are driving me round the bend.

I like to be up and around

With a little rest, of course,

But I am really feeling down

Since my rest has been enforced.

Feeling down is where I am

Feeling down is where I’m at,

Feeling down, right now, right here,

But of rest, I have no lack.

When I think of friends

Currently suffering more than I,

I feel a little ungrateful

But my feeling down I can’t deny.

Feeling like I am feeling?

Feeling down I mean,

It happens every now and again

But Jesus is on the scene.

Stewart Russell © September 2019