Reflecting and Projecting

 

 

A reflective look

To that first Independence Day

Very early in the morning

Before black turned to grey.

 

Very muddy conditions

When our flag ascended

Flying proudly in the night air;

Colonialism then ended.

 

Me, just 13 years old,

But proud to be present

Though at that very early stage

Void of the full essence.

 

 

Essence of its reality,

Essence of its responsibility,

Essence of no longer a colony,

Essence of accountability.

 

Essence of growing pains

And setting goals,

Essence of success and failure

And relentless blows.

 

A very short honeymoon

And the fairy tale effect;

Our people our greatest resource

Regarding what to expect.

 

  

A thrilling moment it was;

All will be great!

My understanding of Independence

Though not here of late.

 

We’ve come a long way

O’er mountain and thro’ vale

And a signal moment of reflection

Reveals this trail.

 

Chronicled in our history

Etched in our minds,

From Errol Barrow to Mia Mottley

Across the annals of time.

 

 

 

And in between:

Tom Adams and Bree St John,

Sandiford and Arthur

All four now gone.

 

Thompson and Stuart

The former also gone

Being the second shortest stint

Before passing on.

 

Just two of seven

Remain with us today;
Stuart, having been ousted,

Mottley holds sway.

 

An impressive journey

Since our Independence

Though, not without ups and downs

And times of turbulence.

 

 

Presently a Republic

Approaching three years

But can we say like the Anthem,

No doubts or fears?

 

Me thinks not

For we have changed face

And things we once held dear

Have been replaced.

 

"The price for progress"

Some will no doubt remark

But the truth be told

We are in the dark.

 

Community is weakened

While the block thrives,

And almost every single day

Another youth dies.

 

 

 

Either by the gun

Or the cutlass or knife

One of our greatest National assets

Loses his life.

 

The church in absentia

Is praying without ceasing

But the reckless taking of life

Is still increasing.

 

The police constabulary

And the judiciary:

Both appear to be in the dark

Regarding this mystery.

 

 

Cases going back

For many a year

And recidivism on the increase

Adding to our fear.

 

Offenders offered bail

To reoffend again

And this being done repeatedly

Like summer rain.

 

And our Republic

Still awaiting a constitution

Almost three years in the making

Since its coronation.

 

 

I was not present

But I saw it on television:

The inauguration of our President

Dame Sandra Mason.

 

Rihanna was presented

For National Hero honours,

Barbados having received from her

Timely financial favours.

 

The eleventh recipient

Of this honour thus far

With Rihanna Drive also an honour

To this international star.

 

 

Weathering COVID-19

That horrible pandemic

That sucked our country’s blood

Leaving it anemic.

 

Yet navigating it

Better than most

While to several tourist liners

Being a merciful host.

 

Some stranded Trinis

Were given safe refuge here

When their own national authorities

Refused them there.

 

 

Such were the suspicions

Of relentless COVID-19

That held no regard for commoners

Or the Queen.

 

COVID-19 was a leveler

Of the rich and the poor

Many of whom lost that battle

And are seen no more.

 

 

So, as we approach

Our fifty-eighth birthday,

Let us give Almighty God thanks

For yet another year.

 

And as we map a course

For the Nation’s future

Let us be particularly mindful

To put God in the picture.

 

For righteousness

Still exalts a nation

And God is forever deserving

Of our adoration.

 

Stewart Russell © November 27, 2024