Mia’s Elixir

  

 

 

None bestrides Barbados

Like PM Mia Mottley,

She appears in absolute control

Of the BLP party.

 

Any that oppose

Is likely to be disposed

And after the nine-day wonder

The matter is closed.

 

The Owen Arthur group

Appears loudly silent

With a silence so acutely deafening

They have lost intent.

 

It might be recessive

But dare not show its face,

Prime minister Mia Amor Mottley

Bestrides this place.

 

She can do no wrong

Even when she does wrong,

To her cultic following it’s a perception

Of the never-belong.

 

 

 

“They are not of us

Though they long to be

To share in the ongoing benevolence

Of PM Mia Mottley."

 

To drink of the elixir

That pours forth from her,

Being the greatest Prime Minister

In the universe.

 

Drunken they’ve become

In merriment and song,

Not only bemused but besotted

All the day long.

 

To whom can they turn

When none other compare?

That she is the greatest of all time

Should be very clear.

 

Mia’s unique elixir

Is the best cure for all

And it is in demand not only here

But also, abroad.

 

 

 

Now on the Forbes’ list

Of the world’s greatest females,

She climbs the international ladder

Without fail.

 

Position at number 99

The world is drinking too

Of Barbados’ Prime Minister’s elixir:

Her special brew.

 

How else could she do

All the things she has done

And still maintain her total control

On the hearts she won?

 

 

 

It has to be her elixir

They’ve been drinking from

Rendering them incapable of reason:

In fact, brain numb.

 

None bestrides Barbados

Like PM Mia Mottley,

She appears in absolute control

Of this country.

 

Stewart Russell © January 29, 2026

 

How Should a Christian Vote?

 

 

From should a Christian vote

To how should a Christian vote,

Is a matter occupying our attention:

A matter of important note.

 

Thus, we put behind us

The question regarding the should

And thus, we shall focus on the how,

Assuming that he or she would.

 

So, what are the parameters

That should control the how?

From the debate among Christians

We will deal with this now.

 

The more pious Christian believers

Would posit that we must pray,

Pray that God would open our eyes

And show us the way.

 

For whom we should vote

Since God knows everyone’s heart

And He knows the ending of a matter

From the very start.

 

From this emerges a perception

Regarding how we hear God,

Do we hear Him like Noah and Abraham

When they answered His call?

 

 

One: to build a huge boat

Since there was going to be a flood;

The other: to forsake his native land

And even leave his blood.

 

 

 

So much was up in the air

That neither of these patriarchs knew,

That they would have to be very sure

God was telling them what to do.

 

It could not have been a dream

Or some trumped up vision

As is the case of modern-day prophets

Before making a big decision.

 

No, there was a certainty

That they were hearing from God

And there was no doubt, whatsoever,

The reason they were called.

 

In the recent Presidential election

There were prophets in both camps

Hence the predicament of the Christian

Regarding a particular slant.

 

 

Then there is the “lesser evil”-

Another “how”, I have heard advanced:

If Christians vote for the lesser evil

They’d have a better chance.

 

Herein is another perception

Especially where there is cover-up

And given the propaganda machinery

You’d need more than luck.

 

Plus, is it the will of God

That Christians should vote for evil?

Does our God promote comparative evil

For His born-again people?

 

A resounding negative

Must be the Christian’s response

When in particular, by other Christians,

This nonsense is advanced.

 

Such must not be a criterion

By which a Christian cast a vote

But a thorough analysis of the candidates

Is of critical note.

 

What has been their practice

Not just what they enunciate

And how has the most vulnerable advanced

Re the policies they initiate.

 

How God-aligned have they been

Re their party’s governance

And in recognition of God’s template,

How is their moral conscience?

 

Let the Christian voter beware

Casting a vote is rather involved

And is a responsibility and accountability

That cannot be lightly absolved.

 

Vote conscience rather than emotion

Vote godliness above ambition,

Vote populace instead of person

And let God shape your decision.

 

At the end of the day

Christians will still vote differently

But they would have carried out their duty

To vote responsibly.

 

Stewart Russell © November 8, 2024

 

I’m Highly Curious

  

 

 

I am highly curious

Of the PM’s moves,

How this snap election thing

Is become her groove.

 

What, pray tell,

Is her reason for such?

I really wish she would come out

And tell us as much.

 

Be transparent Mam,

As you did promise,

Why are these snap elections

So high on your list?

 

Is five years too much

To handle at a time

Or is getting a fresh mandate

Niggling at your mind?

 

 

 

Atherley then Ralphie,

Forming an Opposition

And putting a blot on the outcome

Of the elections.

 

 

 

Are rumblings within

Your well-oiled machine?

Are senior members of the party

Causing you to scream?

 

Tell us Madam PM

What is upsetting you

And causing you to end the term

Before you are through.

 

Constitution incomplete

Promised in twenty-two,

But a general election imminent

Announced by you.

 

A snap general election

A year before it is due,

I tell you Madam PM, I am curious

And others are too.

 

If you do this again

Fifteen years would be eleven:

Three and a half twice plus four

Creates a problem.

 

Three terms of eleven years

Rather than fifteen,

I would feel rather short-changed

If you see what I mean.

 

 

 

So, Madam PM

What is this all about?

Are you just calling snap elections

Because you have the clout?

 

Or was it, I ask you,

To assuredly settle a score

By removing a thorn in your flesh

That makes you sore?

 

Did you run out steam

And preferred a fresh start

Or did you want to show the wannabees

They are not smart?

 

 

 

Would you be disposed

To do like the USA

And have a fixed date for elections

And proceed in this way?

 

Highly curious

Madam Prime Minister,

Please answer me truthfully

And do not defer.

 

Stewart Russell © January 24, 2026

 

The Apathy Party

  

 

There is a political grouping

That developed over time

And its growth by leaps and bounds

Is currently on my mind.

 

I call them the Apathy Party:

And we need to take note

That during the last general election

They got the highest vote.

 

Approximately 55 percent

Did not turn up to vote

And I dare say to you, my erudite friend,

This cuts democracy’s throat.

 

 

 

There may be good reasons

Why some did not turn out

But that apathy is alive and well,

There is no doubt.

 

I hear it on the streets

And on the call-in programmes

And both of the premiere parties

Are getting slammed.

 

“It’s time for a third party,

We’re fed-up with these two

That tell us what we want to hear

But in fact, little do.”

 

Just simply changing hands

Like having an exclusive right

And they virtually shut out others

From entering the fight.

 

It is like a waste of time,

Third parties don’t do well

Since their supporters do not turn up

But stay away instead.

 

 

 

Theirs is the Apathy Party

That have become so fed-up

That they will not vote for a candidate

Having become unstuck.

 

They once voted B or D

But now they vote for nobody

Which has affected the DLP far more

Than the BLP.

 

BLP’s percent has grown

While their numbers have dropped

But the diminishing of the DLP base

Has put them in a dire spot.

 

 

 

Blame the Apathy Party

Whose interest has waned,

They now paint all politicians alike

Or should I say stain?

 

It is a sad state of affairs

When most refuse to vote

But I’ll ask you this, though not sure,

Who is taking note?

 

Not the BLP for sure

For it is to their advantage,

It is the DLP that needs to wake up;

Not a seat they can manage.

 

Hopefully this time around

More voters will turn out

But given how things are shaping up

I still have great doubt.

 

 

 

Apathy Party will win

As they did in twenty-two

And the BLP will sit in the Parliament

And do what they want to do.

 

Stewart Russell © January 26, 2026

 

Is There a Chance?

  

 

 

Is there any chance

There won’t be a three-peat

In which the Mia Mottley led BLP

Gets every seat?

 

 

 

I can tell you

What I’m hearing out there

But really most if it is fairy tale

I’d rather not share.

 

Some are saying

What they would like to see

But the reality is quite evident

It’s not likely to be.

 

The Ds are confident

So too, Friends of Democracy,

Three have even formed a coalition

To build efficacy.

 

Utility pole after utility pole

Is flashing Bright Red,

“Red and Ready” is Mia’s slogan,

Things looking dread.

 

Up to the time of writing

I’m yet to see some yellow

But a once prominent D surmised

Posters are rather shallow.

 

Differently, I observed

A certain Constituency office

So bedecked with the face of a candidate

He could never be missed.

 

 

You’d better believe it

The country is seeing red,

Actually, in more ways than one

It’s both red and dread.

 

Is there a chance?

I would say not much,

Thirty-nil, while losing some ground,

And this is simply put.

 

DLP’s vote is severely split:

Not so with the BLP,

Apathy will no doubt play its part

But not significantly.

 

 

 

The Bs are red and ready

The Ds are confident,

The other parties will cause a stir

As Bs and Ds they resent.

 

We need an Opposition

That’s vibrant in its appeal,

No one man opposition can put fire

To the Government’s heel.

 

No threat to starve MPs

Will have long term effect,

Such a silly and petulant strategy

Is a futile threat.

 

Numbers count, I argue,

Especially in Parliament

And they must be significant enough

For the Ds to make a dent.

 

 

  

So, while I wish them luck

And hope they advance,

Something tells me quite loudly:

Not a chance!

 

Stewart Russell © January 24, 2026

 

No Nations in Heaven

 

 

No nations in heaven

Not a single one,

God ushered in the heavenly Jerusalem

And the old was gone.

 

He didn’t start with a nation

But with one man

To whom he gave a woman

For redemption’s plan.

 

The first Adam failed

With his eyes opened wide,

That he knew what God required

Cannot be denied.

 

 

Judgement came later

In the form of a great flood,

Noah preached for 120 years

But nobody budged.

 

Eight people were saved

To repopulate the world:

Noah, his wife and six others

According to the Word.

 

Next it was Abraham

Called from among his clan

And who was instructed by God

To journey to a land.

 

Followed by Isaac

And Jacob renamed Israel

Out of whom came the twelve tribes

God’s chosen people.

 

 

In faithful Abraham

All nations are blessed

Becoming one people in Christ

Thus, entering God’s rest.

 

No nation at the start

And no nation in the end

But a people out of many nations

Christ calls his friends.

 

To all that received him

They are children of God:

A people not limited to ethnic Israel

But scattered abroad.

 

 

 

Made up of every nation,

Every kindred and tongue

Having heard the everlasting gospel

To YAHWEH now belong.

 

A people, not a nation,

Do not be mistaken!

All of ethnic Israel will not be saved;

Only those that are forgiven.

 

Now no wall of partition,

No longer Gentile and Jew,

All are one people in Christ Jesus

No chosen nation in view.

 

 

No nations in heaven

Only the people of God,

And with these God tabernacles

Though scattered abroad.

 

1 John 3:2

 

Beloved,

Now are we the sons of God,

And it doth not yet appear

What we shall be:

 

But we know that,

When he shall appear,

We shall be like him;

For we shall see him as he is.

 

The New Jerusalem

Prepared as Christ’s bride,

Coming from God out of heaven

With us to forever abide.

 

Stewart Russell ©June 13, 2025

 

So Sorry to Hear

 

 

How oft have you said,

“So sorry to hear”

When you heard some bad news

Loaded with despair?

 

It is understandable

But not what we mean

And for sure, when it is heard,

It’s not what is gleaned.

 

Someone has passed

And we are “sorry to hear”,

But that’s not what we mean

Though what we share.

 

“So sorry to hear

This happened to you"

But that’s not what we mean-

Not in my view.

 

"Did you hear

What happened to Scot?"

“No,” but when you finally heard

You almost dropped.

 

Genuinely touched,

These words appear

From lips operating by mere reflex,

“So sorry to hear.”

 

You’ve heard it often

And have said it too,

And when you responded like this

You were being true.

 

Albeit, though,

It wasn’t what you meant

For you were glad you heard

But not with evil bent.

 

It is the circumstance

You were sorry about

But when you hear bad news

That’s how it comes out.

 

It’s not “so sorry to hear"

Of some recent mishap

But sorry it has happened as in,

I’ve got your back.

 

If you hadn’t heard

You could not know

That your friend had suffered

A major blow.

 

 

 

Nothing more to say

But I trust you understand

That the expression we often share

Is for the circumstance.

 

Stewart Russell © August 8, 2025