On the Brink

 

On the brink of a new month

Another almost fade,

When compared to last year

Have you a better grade?

 

Should I answer honestly,

I really could not say so

But perhaps you have done better

Only you would know.

 

It’s not I haven’t striven

But most years go the same,

The downs will sometimes rule

And often the ups will reign.

 

It’s a roller coaster month

That happens every time

For me, it permeates the year-

Roller coaster is my kind.

 

 

It’s the pattern of life

Seemingly, on the brink,

Something is always promising

And that’s how I think.

 

A feeling to give up

And a drive to never quit,

One can’t be going all the time

Sometimes we have to sit.

 

Consistent reflection

And constantly projecting,

Strengthening that which remains

And needs protecting.

 

On the brink, I dare say,

Need not be precarious,

It could be something spectacular

Or something very precious.

 

July is almost ended

With all its highs and lows,

Its roller coaster breath-taking journey

Is almost at a close. 

 

It will be remembered

And this, for a long time,

An event that was low and yet high

Was the first of its kind.

 

 

On the brink of disaster

Just before it arrived

But over the precipice many went

And a few no longer alive.

 

Hurricane Beryl came

And took so much away,

Her voracious appetite drove her

And she had her say.

 

She has gone away

But her damage is left

Along with her many lessons

If we are not deaf.

 

On the brink again

With vital lessons learned

Hopefully to be put into practice

In the next sojourn.

 

This sojourn is August

Of which we’re on the brink,

Let not July lessons go to waste-

Swim lest you sink!

 

Stewart Russell © July 31, 2024

 

A Note for You and Me

 

 

If you could see the way I see

Wouldn’t you think the way I think?

And if you could feel the way I do

Would you not sink the way I sink?

 

Probably so and probably not

Seeing we are wired differently,

Hence the caution we should heed

When appraising judgmentally.

 

We are quick to grab the big stick

To be the jury and the judge

And the sentence we wish for another

Is akin to settling a grudge.

 

We quote the Bible extensively

Highlighting the old covenant law

Yet when we are in the same predicament

We regard that judgment flawed.

 

We live in momentous times

As a friend of mine would say

And it would behoove us, he would add,

To understand another’s way.

 

Understanding is not condoning

But an appreciation for the facts

And a realization that words are damaging

And can never be taken back.

 

Sometimes though we see alike

There are still many discrepancies

And these sometimes, subtle differences

Distinguish you from me.

 

Some have had a horrendous life

Not nearly the kind that we have had

And though this does not give them license,

There are reasons why they are bad.

 

I thank God for my upbringing

And for the parents that I have had,

That upbringing has made the difference

Hence, thank you Mum and Dad!

 

Many have not been as fortunate

To have had a similar past

And the experiences they have experienced

Would leave us all aghast.

 

Each one of us is a product

Of the many experiences we have had

And the lessons we learnt or did not learn

Will augur for good or bad.

 

Again I will quote my friend

That we live in momentous times

And it behooves us who can godly think

To spiritually train our minds.

 

 

There will be many a behaviour

That will be difficult to understand

But final judgment must be left to God

For that is His determined plan.

 

Help where we can with understanding

Using both reprimand and praise

And appreciating our own shortcomings

Always our own standards raise.

 

Cognizant of the reality check

That "there go I but for the grace of God"

And for whatever good may be found in us

It is God we must applaud.

 

Stewart Russell © January 2020

 

Independence

Independence, Independence

The word that’s in the air,

Barbadians at home and abroad

Celebrating our fifty-second year.

Lighting up from November 1^st

The indication we have begun

One whole month of celebration

For every single bajan.

We are proud of this country

And thankful to Almighty God,

And for the progress we have made

We sound out a loud applause.

There’s much to shout about

Though some things make us sigh

But we have weathered many storms

And that we cannot deny.

 

 

With God’s help we have come afar

With His strength we will go on,

With faith in Him consistently

We will see the brighter dawn.

Independence, Independence

Let us lift our hearts to heaven

To the one who sent His Son

So that we might be forgiven.

He’s the centre of our puzzle

Without whom it can’t be fixed,

Failure will stare us in the face

If he is omitted from the mix.

It matters not how big we think

Or how great we think we are,

It is still the Almighty God

Who has brought us safe this far.

In times of progress and success

There is a tendency to forget

And later as we reflect

We do so with much regret.

  

We take this time today

And for everyday of this month

To reflect on the passage of time:

In failure and in triumph.

Learning the lessons of the former

And giving praise for the latter,

Doing our best on the climbs

And making up time on the flatter.

Independence, Independence

A charter to be pursued,

Interdependence when necessary

With those of a common view.

Never forgetting those values

That gave impetus to our cause…

Those long established morals

Which are enshrined in our laws.

So with heart and hand and voice

To the plough, to the plough, to the plough

Working assiduously for the “FUTURE”

While taking care of the “NOW”.

In unity and accord

And a firm conviction of purpose,

Agitating for the common good

Void of self-indulging fuss.

Independence, Independence

In this lovely month of November

Let us celebrate our country Barbados

And make this a time to remember.

Stewart Russell © November 2018