All o’ This Fuss

 

 

All o’ this fuss

For just one day

And in a flash before you know it,

It’s gone away.

 

Then melancholy

And mild regret

And you find yourself wishing

It hadn’t come yet.

 

All o’ this fuss

Up to Christmas Eve

And hoping on Christmas Day

For some reprieve.

 

But there is much

That needs to be done

So that those who are coming

Can have fun.

 

Family gatherings

So, food to be prepared

To feed all the hungry people

Gathering there.

 

There in one place

Maybe the family home;

That place everyone returns to

After they are grown.

 

 

 

All o’ this fuss

To make others happy

And before Christmas Day is over

You’re tired and sleepy.

 

Next day you reflect

On all o’ the fuss

And wonder, is it really worth it;

All o’ this fuss?

 

What are the lessons

That we never learn?

All o’ this fuss for Christmas Day;

So much energy burned.

 

Near misses aplenty

And bumper collisions,

Excessive road rage situations

Without contrition.

 

In a long line

At the cash register

And it’s just before closing time,

With foot blisters.

 

Wishing to rest them

After all o’ the fuss

And already futilely regretting

All o’ this rush.

 

 

 

But you and I know

Repeat is inevitable

And come this time the next year,

Same trouble.

 

Yes, all o’ this fuss

Is absolutely cultural

And especially for the women,

It is natural.

 

Well, as for yours truly,

I am too old for this

Even though when the day passes

It is severely missed.

 

 

 

I must confess

It is my favourite time

And the count-down to Christmas

Occupies my mind.

 

But I can enjoy it

Minus all o’ this fuss

And I try as much as wifey allows

To avoid the rush.

 

 

 

All o’ this fuss

For just one day

And in a flash before you know it,

It’s gone away.

 

Stewart Russell © December 23, 2025

 

Consistently Inconsistent

 

 

 

The only constant is God

According to what most tell me

And if I were entirely honest,

I would have to agree.

 

Again, we may also agree,

That another is within range,

This being what we often hear-

The only constant is change.

 

So, God is definitely one

And change surely is another,

There is a third I must mention

And this one is a bother.

 

Consistently inconsistent

The title of this poem,

Day in and day out you’d know

Inconsistency is a problem.

 

There’s scarcely an occupation

In which this is not large

And not only from the workers,

But also from those in charge.

 

It is across the public service

In the church and Parliament

And it has become so pervasive,

It reeks of deliberate intent.

 

Ad hoc behavior I call it,

Always contrary to the plan

And it does not pertain to animals

But is a specialty of man.

 

It is nothing to be proud of

For it betrays a person’s trust,

And the frequent disappointments

Can cause a lot of fuss.

 

Consistently inconsistent

That’s what I am talking ‘bout,

That inconsistency is a constant,

Is to me without doubt.

 

Garbage collection in Barbados

Workers at their various jobs,

When they stick to an agreement

It comes over as being odd.

 

Doctors will give you a time

To turn up for an appointment

But so too have been several others

For that same instant.

 

“What’s your appointment time?”

“My appointment time is nine.”

“How can that be, my friend,

When that is the same as mine?”

 

It’s difficult to properly plan

Given these inconsistencies

And the frustration that occurs

Is all too frequently.

 

Consistently inconsistent!

Inconsistency is a constant,

Maybe not like God and change

But almost as frequent.

 

Stewart Russell © August 8, 2023