Independence/Republic

 

 

Independence or Republic:

Which of these are we?

Constitution notwithstanding,

Can we say we are free?

 

Does it really matter

Wrangling over such?

To you and me in all seriousness,

Does it mean so much?

 

What do captions, pray tell,

If our lifestyles don’t comply?

Can it be culturally Barbadian

If captions tell a lie?

 

Independence or Republic

What do we celebrate

In this festive month of November

On its special date?

 

How do we differentiate

And is there a need

Since both events fall on 30^th November;

Tell me, what do you feel?

 

 

The folk songs are traditional

So too, the events and folklore,

How do we reflect the Republic

Unless we add some more?

 

Independence in 1966

A Republic in 2022

But in reality, nothing has changed,

What differently can we do?

 

It would have been better

It they were done together

But 56 years apart, I am sure you agree,

Doesn’t resolve this matter.

 

Cultural practices build up

Over many a year

And Barbados, as a young Republic,

Is still in first gear.

 

A caption is all there is

With nothing more to support

And not even a Republic Constitution

Informing our Law Court.

 

Independence still reigns

With its songs and folklore

And culturally, nothing has changed,

It’s just like before.

 

God bless Bim

On Independence Day”;

Republic would sound rather strange

If it were sung that way.

 

The Barbados Coat of Arms

And the National Flag:

Tell me what would we do with these?

And there’s more in the bag.

 

The National Pledge

And the National Anthem:

You’d have to throw out these too,

I reckon.

 

Oh, How I still wish

They had happened together:

Our Independence and Republic

Wouldn’t be a bother!

 

The Republic of Barbados

Oh, what a name!

But without a Republic Constitution,

Can we make that claim?

 

It may be a caption for now

Or just a mere title,

But procuring the new Constitution

Is extremely vital.

 

Other than the cosmetics

Regarding the name changing,

We can expect no more significance

Than deckchairs rearranging.

 

 

We’re better than the Titanic

In that we are still afloat,

However, let’s be exceedingly careful;

It’s no time to gloat.

 

Stewart Russell © November 18, 2024