Republic Day

 

 

“Jumping the gun”

And not “looking before we leap”

Apply to Barbados

Even as I speak.

 

“Cart before the horse”

And “hurrying and wasting time”

Are two more maxims

That come to mind.

 

On November 30, 2021

We became the newest Republic

And in regal splendour

Made our exit.

 

 

Exit from Britain

In the presence of Prince Charles

But at this signal event

No Charles in Charge.

 

Republic Day

Was to replace Independence Day

But Bajans rejected this

Saying, “No way!”

 

Independence Day

But as yet, no Republic Day

And I am beginning to wonder…

What really is the delay?

 

“Starting before we’re ready”

Maxim number five:

A case of an unplanned take-off

Followed by a nose dive.

 

In a festive mood:

Dress-up and cosmetics galore

But concerning substance,

We are very poor.

 

 

A sham some would call it,

A fake or a disguise

And Bajans, for the most part,

On a roller-coaster ride.

 

Up, down, up, down,

Mostly more down than up,

Will there ever be a Republic Day?

Tell me what is the outlook.

 

Stewart Russell © November 8, 2023

 

It’s Not Dementia

 

 

You need not be concerned

On this or any day,

If you feel you have dementia

The doctor says, no way.

 

If you have dementia

And you know you have dementia

Then regarding your dementia

You do not have dementia.

 

If you know you forget

And you just keep on forgetting,

You do not have dementia

So please stop the fretting.

 

I am meeting a lot of people

With dementia on their mind,

They tell me that as they get older

They are forgetting all the time.

 

Even that is not true,

Nobody forgets all the time,

One cannot forget all of the time

If forgetting is on one’s mind.

 

But aside from that aside

One who knows he is forgetting

Needs to try some remembering techniques

And stop the useless fretting.

 

Order your life a little more,

Become a little more organized,

Have set routines throughout your day

And you will be surprised.

 

Put everything in a set place

Discipline yourself to do it,

Jot down things you are forgetting

And make this a daily habit.

 

It’s not dementia, I tell you,

Not if you are aware,

It has to be something else for sure

And I want to make this clear.

 

 

At the open door stood she

Not knowing what to do,

She couldn’t recall if she had come in

Or about to pass through.

 

He couldn’t remember his name,

In fact, he never had one,

Though a former teacher of some repute

His memory was now gone.

 

Neither knew they had forgotten,

It hadn’t occurred to them,

Whether or not theirs was dementia

Was not even their problem.

 

If dementia is your problem

You are not likely to know,

Note therefore my concerned friend,

Any doctor would tell you so.

 

If you have dementia

And you know you have dementia

Then regarding your dementia

You do not have dementia.

 

It’s not dementia, I tell you,

Not if you are aware,

It has to be something else for sure

So, put away your fear.

 

Stewart Russell © August 31, 2023