It Is November!

 

 

It is November

And in a sense, a month to remember,

Of course, in a different way

From the month of September.

 

Naught of storms

Though ‘tis the hurricane season

But of something more enthralling-

Independence is the reason.

 

It is commemorating

When we told Great Britain Good-bye

Having decided we were able

To give self-autonomy a try.

 

And not just a try

But more like a vibrant endeavor

And so, in the month of November

We have Independence fever.

 

All month long

We will sing our national songs,

Highlighting folklore and calypso

With a spirited sing-along.

 

 

 

And we will recall

Those days of the Union Jack

When the economy of Great Britain

Was placed of Bajan backs.

 

But not just the past

But more importantly, who we are

For with the Lord as our guide,

We have come this far.

 

Some will say

That we should have been farther

But I say, doubling our effort

Should be our endeavor.

 

 

For Barbados

Is the home that we truly know

And we must develop Barbados

If Barbados is to grow.

 

“All hands” on deck

And pay Barbados due respect

For it is out of what we put in

That we will also get.

 

It is not fraternizing

That will make Barbados succeed

But remembering who we are-

Proud Bajan indeed!

 

 

 

Not a lazy pride

But one supported by industry,

Standing on our hero’s shoulders

To boost this economy.

 

It is November!

Calling Barbadians one and all!

Whether at home or living abroad,

Help Barbados stand tall!

 

Stewart Russell © November 6, 2023

 

Lest We Forget

Lest we forget the blood sweat and tears

Lest we forget the prayers

Lest we forget the back-breaking toil

That brought us through the years.

Lest we forget the moral underpinnings

Which have served our country well

Or the faithfulness of Almighty God

Which the second verse of our anthem spells.

Lest we forget the message of the book

Regarding the treatment of our neighbour

Or the nurturing of our children

And the modelling of good behaviour.

Lest we forget the “pride and industry”

That our national motto demands

And that righteousness is the way forward

If we are to benefit from God’s plan.

Lest we forget that crime doesn’t pay

And that retribution is still a reality today,

Lest we forget we don’t have the last word

But God has the final say.

Let us now turn our hearts heavenward

In cognition of God’s faithfulness

And give Him thanks and praise

For we are a people truly blessed.

Fifty-two years of Independence and before

God has been our guide,

Faithful to us through thick and thin

Though we oft wandered from His side.

Spared the ravages of many a storm

And protected so far from political upheaval

While seamlessly changing administrations

We should never be a forgetful people.

So less we forget the goodness of God

Let’s take a few precious moments right now

And in acknowledgement of His benevolence

With grateful hearts before Him bow.

  

Give us grateful hearts, we pray

Heavenly Father, lest we forget your love

And remind us in the good times and bad

Every single blessing comes from above.

As we celebrate 52 years of Independence

We pray that you will be our principal object

And that our eye of faith will be on you

The one that has never failed; lest we forget.

Remind us that righteousness exalts a nation

But with an evil bent a reproach we can expect,

That you deserve our reverence and respect:

Remind us of these things Lord, lest we forget.

Stewart Russell © November 2018