The Hot Spot

 

 

“Everybody cud do the job better

When they are not in the chair.”

Lynelle “Larix” Caines

 

Thanks to Larix, my daughter,

Who inspired this poem,

The above quote from her

Highlights a common problem.

 

In the chair is the hot spot

That many like to shun

Absolving themselves of any responsibility

For any emerging problems.

 

 

It is like looking down on a board

Watching someone play draughts,

Seeing the bad moves of that someone

And having a restrained laugh.

 

But when it is your turn to play

You are unable do any better,

That chair becomes your hot spot

And you become the joker.

 

“Everybody cud do the job better

When they are not in the chair,”

And often it is when you sit down

That this point becomes very clear.

 

I have listened to armchair critics

Watching a game of cricket

And these become the best batsmen

To ever bat on a sticky wicket.

 

“He should have played forward,

Why did he play back?”

Some never even play the game

But they giving the batsmen flack.

 

 

“Everybody cud do the job better

When they are not in the chair,”

But when it was their time to manage

Everything was in disarray.

 

I do not mean to be political

And no one is above criticism

But come on man, “gih me a break”

COVID is a colossal problem.

 

The authorities have made mistakes,

None of us can deny

But whoever was in this hot spot would,

I don’t care how hard they try.

 

 

“Everybody cud do the job better

When they are not in the chair,”

But when we criticize let’s remember

Unjust criticism is not fair.

 

COVID requires a technical balance

That’s based on trial and error

And the authorities need all the help

To deal with this demon-like terror.

 

At times they will get it wrong

COVID is several moves ahead,

Often, they must wheel and come again

Before COVID “kill us all dead”.

 

Criticize if you feel you must

But please, I beg you, also have a heart

For all who have been working hard

From the very start.

 

For all the frontline workers

For the essential workers too,

And for all who adhere to the protocols:

People like me and you.

 

And remember…

 

 

“Everybody cud do the job better

When they are not in the chair.”

This time it’s the Prime Minister’s turn

Gih she some help, wunna hear?

 

Stewart Russell © February 26, 2021