Cannot Sleep

 

 

They cannot sleep

For the sound of the guns,

They know not where the next volley

Would come from.

 

High powered weapons

That bypass doors

Easily piercing chattel house wood

To drop on the floor.

 

So, they stay awake

Ready to hit the floor

While the little ones sleep through

Evidence by snores.

 

Unaware of the danger

That such weapons pose

The young ones could soundly sleep

As though comatose.

 

But the more aware,

They just cannot sleep,

They must be ready to take action

When the bullets speak.

 

In the still of the night

When the crickets chirp,

Mamas must watch over their babes

So, they won’t be hurt.

 

 

They cannot sleep

For the threat of the guns

While the avengers cannot sleep;

They’ve work to be done.

 

Revenge and reprisal

For the last one executed!

Wherever this assassin or whoever,

He too must be muted.

 

Half 2025 completed

And, with much to show

With a whopping twenty-eight persons

Who no longer pass go.

 

As judge and jury

And with weapon in hand,

These assassins have all they need

To execute their plan.

 

They cannot sleep

But for a different reason,

They have a mission to accomplish;

It is killing season.

 

Whether it be nighttime

Or whether it be day

Barbadian citizens are on the alert;

It is now the way.

 

 

A wave affects the island

Though not a storm type

And which our Parliament and police

Seem unable to fight.

 

With loads of rhetoric

And with “talk can’t done”,

They appear clueless as to the source

Of these imported guns.

 

We know how they come

Was a comment recently

In which the speaker made the effort

To be heard clearly.

 

That comment, as I recall,

Eliminated a constituency

Suggesting that we look to the others

To solve this mystery.

 

Can we have this assurance

From the other sitting MPs

What this particular MP made clear

Re their constituency?

 

 

They gave a suggestion

To be taken seriously

Regarding the Barbados Police Service

In carrying out their duty.

 

A targetted approach

Aimed at both high and low

And not just certain communities

As statistics show.

 

The country can’t sleep

With bullets flying around

When almost daily another citizen

Is taken down.

 

It is mostly the youth,

Putting our future at stake

As well as our tourism endeavour

Still thriving to date.

 

 

 

Many cannot sleep

Though for different reasons

And this reckless gun importation

Is akin to treason.

 

The elderly are targeted,

Our women especially

And we wonder who will be the next

In this unsolved mystery.

 

Many cannot sleep

And it is getting worse

And all we are mostly regaled with

Are speeches rehearsed.

 

From the illegal importer

To the assassin’s hand,

Guns are causing serious insomnia

In our fair land.

 

To grammar purists

Re my incorrect use of they-

To avoid the issue of gender identity,

I took this way.

Stewart Russell © July 1, 2025

 

A Shout-out and A Caution

A shout-out to the front line workers

Whoever they are

They have been marvelous

Both near and far

Someone may say

But it is their duty

It is for that they are paid

But the truth be told

They have gone beyond duty

In many, many ways

The doctors and nurses

The firemen and police

The National Assistance Board

Whose work does not cease

The sanitation workers

And the Ministry of Health

That fight COVID-19

Amidst the danger to self.

There are several others

Whose names I could call

The B.D.F. and nursing homes

And that is not all

Like the Czar and the C.M.O.

And their attentive teams

Without these supports

It could have been a different scene

That Barbados has done well

There is surely no doubt,

Assist these front line workers

And reckless behaviours

Please cut out!

We cannot afford

To lose the ground we have made

For the loss of one life

There is no sum that can be paid

We have lost seven

And their families are sad

No more please,

Don’t make it a fad

A few countries had cases

Without any deaths

Like Reunion and Vietnam

I won't name the rest

 

Cambodia, for example,

Has an interesting statistic

What they are doing is working

That's my verdict

Of one hundred twenty-two cases

All but one has recovered

They must be doing something

From which the world can prosper

Please, Barbadians,

Please listen up!

The COVID-19 pandemic

Is a bitter cup

It is not easy to swallow

I am sure you agree

So, let’s help the front line workers

To ensure our safety

A word to the youth

That are strong and healthy

Please don’t be reckless

You could infect your family

It may not kill you

But think of gramps and granny

That have a greater challenge

Coping with this COVID misery.

    

Stay safe and be blessed

Use this time for reflection and rest

Our front line workers are surely the best

A shout-out to all of them

During this COVID test

Stewart Russell © May 2020

Mother Hewitt

The hundred metres record

Was absolutely smashed

When Usain Bolt

And the titans clashed.

A mere 9.58 seconds

After the start of the race

The finish line was reached,

What tremendous pace!

Bolt had won it

Like a lightning flash,

For a race 100 metres long

That was certainly a dash.

Talking about a dash

Brings to mind Mother Hewitt,

She recently demonstrated

That she is quite fit.

She ran a hundred too

And that’s not the end

Because last time I checked

She was still running my friend.

We rejoice with her

For running so well,

This poem is to congratulate her

And to the whole world tell.

Although life is a dash

She has not completed yet,

Hopefully a super centenarian

Would be the next goal set.

Setting a steady pace

From 1918 to this time

She has run with determination

And a focused mind.

Many a milestone

She would have accomplished

Many an achievement

And many a wish.

  

A longstanding member

At Carrington Wesleyan Holiness

Celebrating a century together

Well, more or less.

The church’s was in February

Mother Hewitt’s was in March

What an achievement for both

From a very humble start.

I remember Mother Hewitt

When I was a little lad

She always had time for the youth

Both good and bad.

She didn’t make any distinction

She treated them alike,

Perhaps because of that

Many turned to the right.

The last time I saw her

Her memory was quite remarkable,

Her recall was exceptional

About events and people.

She spoke of the time

When she came to Carrington,

We were going to a birthday party

And for her that was fun.

It was the ninetieth birthday

Of a very good friend,

Mum Norris was the celebrant

And she was delighted to attend.

I took some photos of her

As she enjoyed herself

Sitting by her old friend

She appeared in good health.

I am not surprised

She has reached this score

And somehow I feel

God will grant her some more.

I bless God today

For precious Mother Hewitt

And congratulate her being a part

Of this great bajan trait.

Almost every week

A bajan reaches this mark:

Centenarian after centenarian,

It’s like a walk in the park

Stewart Russell © July 2018