Fit It to Whomever

 

 

 

How often do you hear

“We are doing the best we can”?

They are doing the best they can

Down to every single man.

 

And they can only get better

For they are at rock bottom

And should they drill further down

This would be rotten.

 

Doing their best for whom?

Not for insignificant me,

And I dare say not for you either;

I trust that you see.

 

We can become so partisan,

We refuse to see the truth

But steering us right in our face

Is the blatant proof.

 

So, if as they are saying

They are doing their best,

Why is it not obvious to everyone?

Why don’t I feel less stress?

 

Why do I get the feeling

That they are doing their best

In the sense they cannot do better,

As in not up to the test…

 

 

Or, as in doing their best

As shown by their high grades

Received from international agencies

The other Government failed?

 

So, it is all well and good

To say “We are doing our best”

But I need to know whose agenda

And who grades the test.

 

 

Is it the IMF

That pushes raising tax

So that whatever gains accrued to us

Must now be put back?

 

Is it certain corporations

And or faithful devotees

That must receive promised rewards

For ably assisting parties?

 

Like the promised fatted calf

That was previously engaged

And if such promises are not kept

Some will likely be enraged?

 

It is likely not you or me

To whom their best relates,

If so, tell me my partisan friend,

Would we be in this state?

 

 

 

They come to us first

When it is campaign time

But after our 30 seconds of power

We are far from their mind.

 

They promise to serve us

Just to get our vote

And thereafter, the fires that burn,

They continue to stoke.

 

In the words of their partisans

We complain too much

And want to treat the Government

As though it is our crutch.

 

“Get up and get,” they crow,

“And stop the complaining.”

Forgetting it’s the last Government

They are still blaming.

 

They complained then

But theirs was constructive

However, the complainers presently,

Are considered destructive.

 

 

The former did their worst

These are doing their best,

It’s really only a matter, you see,

Re who is marking the test.

 

 

 

The best they can they do

And they do the best they can

And they daily testify to the fact,

This is down to every man.

 

Man, here is generic;

I know this doesn’t hold today

But to facilitate rhyme and meter,

I use it in this way.

 

No offense is meant

And I trust none is taken

But if perchance you are offended,

I beg to be forgiven.

 

Stewart Russell © October 4, 2024

 

Death Is Treatable

 

 

 

Death, I assure you,

Is a treatable condition,

Like the bug-bearer, cancer,

It goes into remission.

 

It is not a disease

As some want to believe

But rather, a state of not being,

Oh, I feel so relieved.

 

It is not infectious

Like a laugh or a smile

So that you cannot catch it

But it lasts for a while.

 

It is treatable

Yes, a cure has been found!

So, please don’t be in a hurry

To go underground.

 

If someone has died

That you know quite well,

Let them stay above ground

At least for a spell.

 

 

We are on the cusp

Of something really great,

Technology can treat to death

It need not be a date.

 

The moment one dies

Quickly swap out his brain,

Give him a heart transplant

And change all his veins.

 

Give him a blood transfusion

And reinstall his mind,

Then run him on solar power

For an appropriate time.

 

Closely monitor him

For a day or two

Just to make sure he is himself

And not me or you.

 

Now you know as I do

That death is treatable

And all one needs to do is die

To prove it is possible.

 

Any candidates out there?

I won’t be the first!

Death is a one-time happening

And cannot be rehearsed.

 

It is treatable, though,

Try it out for yourself,

You would be a good candidate

If you have poor health.

 

You must die first

If you expect this to work

And it is a painless procedure,

It does not hurt.

 

One thing more

That I almost forgot,

You must not lose consciousness…

At least, not the whole lot.

 

 

If you are conscious

This procedure is possible

And I guarantee you at the end,

It will be successful.

 

Yes, death is treatable

Like any normal disease,

Trust me on this one, my friend,

And don’t be a tease.

 

“Why not me?” you asked,

Is this what I heard?

If I am hearing you correctly

You’ve got to be absurd.

 

I can’t try it for you,

That wouldn’t make sense,

I mean, your death is treatable,

Please, no offense.

 

Stewart Russell © October 10, 2023

You’re Not Making Sense

 

You become offended

At my unexpected remark

Especially after you elaborate

And I am still in the dark.

 

But I may simply mean

Just say a little more

And help me make sense

Of what I do not know.

 

No need to get offended

It may not be aimed at you,

It is I who have the deficit

I am lacking in view.

 

Of course, it could also be

The deficit is with you

And you don’t really know

What you thought you knew.

 

 

So before rushing to conclude

Ask where I am coming from,

You may be very well surprised

Neither of us is dumb.

 

And that I meant no offense

When I said what I said,

I was merely seeking clarity

On what you said instead.

 

But, on the other hand,

You may need to sharpen up,

For having not aptly prepared

You may be out of luck.

 

Maybe you got away before

But clearly, not this time,

That dumb student at the back

May be messing with your mind.

 

“You’re not making sense”

May not be aimed at you,

It may be, please, if you will,

Help me see your view.

 

I may not be a dumb kid

But, only a little slow

Hence, “You’re not making sense,”

Is just to let you know.

 

Stewart Russell © May 9, 2023

Making Sense of Nonsense

 

 

“Impossible!” you say,

“It’s no way such can be done,”

But I say that we definitely have to,

Given how things are being run.

 

That is, if it's really true,

For I believe it cannot be

But if on the other hand it is true

Sooner or later we shall see.

 

Here of late, I coin the phrase,

I am “too dumb to be impressed!”

And this means I don’t understand

And won’t even bother to guess.

 

What is 400% interest

Especially on foreign loans?

Was it that ridiculous in the first place

Or over time has grown?

 

Clearly it is not simple interest;

But both compound and complex,

And if someone had done this to me

I would be violently vexed.

 

I thought I had heard recently

About loans at 1% interest

But 400% interest is a quantum leap

Hence, my present stress.

 

If it is growing at a frenetic pace

We need to quickly pay it off

If not, I tell you Madam Prime Minister,

We are in for a gigantic loss.

 

I note it is presently a concern

To you and your financial team

But please tell me how we got here

Coming off the COVID scene?

 

Were the loan terms, Madam PM,

Not clearly enumerated

Or did it appear to be such easy money

That common sense evaporated?

 

 

Bear with me, if you will,

As I try to make sense of nonsense,

I do not mean to be disingenuous-

Madam PM, I mean no offense.

 

I know the hold you have

On supporters local and foreign

And the lack of dissent among your team

Says to me there is a problem.

 

For one of them should have seen

This oncoming hurricane

And warn the rest of your Cabinet

The light is an oncoming train.

 

Is there a plan, I ask, Madam PM,

To settle this quadruple loan?

For this astronomical 400% interest growth

Is clearly out of our zone.

 

And, what is your expectation Madam PM,

If this matter is not addressed soon?

Will Barbados still belong to us

Or to some international tycoon?

 

Daily I am hearing rumours

Of countries being swallowed up

And I am sincerely hoping, Madam PM,

That such is not our cup.

 

 

 

Be it China or India or Africa

Or even Trinidad in the Caribbean,

Friends of all and satellites of none

It’s back to the Barrow scene.

 

Uh can’t make sense, I must conclude,

Of the enormity of this interest nonsense,

400% interest on foreign loans is staggering!

Madam PM, I mean no offense.

 

Stewart Russell © May 2, 2023