Building Nationhood

 

 

No man is an island

Is not mere cliché

For it takes a dedicated people

Pulling the same way.

 

A country divided

Is sure to fall

But He who pulls it together

Is Almighty God.

 

No party is a Nation

But the people are,

They are the engine that propels

As in a motorcar.

 

True democracy is:

Dueling, cut and thrust

Though not by any means to death

But common in purpose.

 

 

 

Building Nationhood

Is the singular purpose,

It’s practising the kind of democracy

We can trust.

 

Eradication of opposition

Is at most tyranny,

For it neither builds nor develops

Any country.

 

But rather, it destroys

And it pulls down

And causes its citizens to carry

A quizzical frown.

 

Replete with nepotism

It takes care only of its own

Among whom the fatted calf is divided

Minus the bones.

 

If minus the bones

Portrays an undertone

To which you may take offence,

Then you're not alone.

 

 

 

Building Nationhood is

Having each other’s back

And depicts a degree of selflessness

That keeps all on track.

 

It is looking out for all

Especially the vulnerable

And creating for challenged persons

A life that is livable.

 

The academic and artisan,

Architect and engineer,

Sanitation workers and domestics:

To them all be fair.

 

Make an honest dollar.

Spend but also save

And help someone in dire need

Whom God also made.

 

A word to the shootists

And to all gun importers:

Please get involved in Nation building

As responsible voters.

 

A word to those officials

That turn a blind eye:

You may very well be contributing

To why so many die.

 

Especially our youth

More often by the gun

And a life full of promise and hope

Sadly done.

 

 

 

And to the Government

Of our fair land, Bim,

It is time to increase productivity

And cut borrowing.

 

Give greater incentive

To those that produce

So that we increase our exports

And imports reduce.

 

It is harder to repay

Than to borrow

And we know not of the vagaries

Inside tomorrow.

 

Build with God

With heart and with hands

And let your promised manifesto

Be the working plan.

 

Happy 59th, Barbados!

As we look towards 60,

May each Barbadian take his place

As a Nation building trusty.

 

 

 

Building Nationhood

For generations to come

So they too may acknowledge us

For a race well run.   

 

Stewart Russell © November 29, 2025

 

Teamwork

 

 

Eight pieces of a puzzle,

Each one a different shape

But bringing their differences together

A working unit will make.

 

Teamwork is what it’s called:

A working together whole

And while one alone can do nothing

Together they plant the pole.

 

Ants are a good example

As they work around their queen,

The bees surely are no different

And work as a well oiled team.

 

 

There is no such thing really

As a one-man team,

That kind of thinking is a nightmare

Not even a happy dream.

 

Choosing people like yourself

To work together with you

Will at the end of the day achieve little

Even with a common view.

 

Teamwork is a pulling together

Minds of diverse thinking

But with a common purpose in view

Doing the essential linking.

 

 

Heads together and hand in hand

With passion as their heart,

Working steadfastly as one

With each one doing his part.

 

Cooperation is the key

And not an obsession with self,

The team is the end all and be all

And that to me is top-shelf.

 

Stewart Russell © August 15, 2021