We Gatherin’

 

It is interesting in 2020

That we have planned “a gathering”

For bajans far and near

To join in celebrating.

A joyous home coming time

A time of great reflection,

A time of reminding one and all

Of the need for introspection.

Having commenced in January

In the parish of St Lucy

And continuing throughout the year

Highlighting each parochial legacy.

“We Gatherin’” is upon us

With St Lucy now complete,

And so it is on to St Peter

Where we have been promised a treat.

No doubt there will be comparisons

As each parish grabs its chance

To advertise its resources

And our fair nation enhance.

For Barbados is a blessed country

And the right thinking will agree

We have punched above our weight

So give praise to the Almighty.

From St Lucy in the north

To St Philip in the south,

Nothing demeaning about our Nation

Should ever exit our mouth.

So at this time of gathering

We must surely lift the standard,

Each and every single parish

Rallying around its banner.

Notice we started with FAITH

In the parish of St Lucy,

A reminder that our achievements

Are the blessings of the Almighty.

For there is nothing we can do

Without His enabling strength

And in our honesty should confess

He is our shield and defense.

They say you will find a Barbadian

In every part of the world,

“We Gatherin’” is calling everyone,

I hope by now they have heard.

It would be good if we could have

All the countries represented

Where Barbadians make their living

And their prospects are cemented.

For the world is a global village

Of which Barbados is a part

And wherever a Barbadian is

Barbados should be in his heart.

As we celebrate “We Gatherin’”

During this God-given year

May we also take time to think

Of the gathering over there.

I speak of that great gathering

Of believers dead and alive,

It’s time that Barbadians everywhere

Begin to catch that vibe.

In this “We Gathering’” year

Let us be prepared for home going

For we know not about tomorrow

Or what today will bring.

How remarkable it would be

If in this “We Gatherin’” year

Our nation recommit to Almighty God

And entrust its future to His care.

Let’s implement the national anthem

Especially the second stanza

So that it becomes our trademark

Rather than mere propaganda.

We are reeling under the impact

From the spoilage of our country

By persons of disrepute

And entirely bent on villainy.

 

May 2020 be remembered

Not only for the year “We Gatherin’”

But the year of new beginnings

For our beloved country Bim.

Stewart Russell © February 2020

In Remembrance of an Icon

On this date in history

A mere seven years ago

Our mum lost a husband and we a father

Such a wonderful man to know.

Was without adequate warning

Or so we had at first believed

While Dad was at the sink washing up

Came the indication of his last meal.

It was at this time he felt unwell

Just after the regular Sunday lunch

But to think that this would be the end

Not one of us even had a hunch.

 

He was taken to Bay View hospital

And his recovery was quite remarkable

To the extent he would be kept over night

Just to ensure the end of his trouble.

At 2:00 a.m. according to a nurse

As on each hour they would check

He was fine and with her had chatted

On his death not one would dare to bet.

But at 3:00 a.m. when she had returned

He was dead as dead can be

Dad Russell without prior indication

Had been ushered into eternity.

Even now it is still difficult to fathom

Why he would go just like that

For he would always kiss our mum

When he was going away to come back.

Perhaps this was one of the signs

Such a hope would have been misleading

For he was never that kind of a man

To impress he was not returning.

Another thing we should have noted

Were the specifics with Mum he shared

About where she could find most everything

When the occasion of his demise appear.

 

 

 

He was an extremely organized person

Even down to shelling an egg

He would eat the white and leave the yolk

And a drink he would never imbibe the dregs.

Oft I would watch him as he sat at breakfast

He was as meticulous as they come

And he would methodically eat that meal

Though often leaving back some.

Like he was in life perhaps he was in death

Having with the Lord planned his home going

And not wanting to be a burden or a worry

Determined to go without any of us knowing.

I am still struggling after seven years

To come to grips with this event

But I am exceedingly grateful to Almighty God

For the eighty-seven years here he spent.

Some call them unsung heroes

And I suppose to the wider world they are

But to those that really knew them

They are icons; they are ever shining stars.

Such is our dad and our mother’s spouse

For though deceased yet he lives still

A memory to treasure and to keep hope alive

And in the midst of sorrow produce a thrill.

An icon, a star, a hero, a gift

An earthly treasure equalled but unsurpassed

A calling and an election sure no doubt

Is his to be had unquestionably at last.

Safe with his Saviour, his Lord and King

Ever to be remembered by us who remain

Then joined together as one heavenly throng

To be with Jesus, our Lord who forever reigns.

On this date in history seven years ago

Passed on a man the world might never know

But we knew and experienced his radiant glow

And those who got to know him will tell you so.

Stewart Russell © 2016