Not Sorry At All

 

 

I am not sorry

That Mia was pricked,

I wish a few more would follow-

A ‘no-opposition is sick.

 

Thus, the status of Barbados

Ever since 2018,

Only a Parliamentary opposition

Can change this scene.

 

It may be possible

To fight your own shadow

But any self-determined win

Will likely be hollow.

 

Thirty seats was a mistake

Once and then twice,

And whatever the perception,

No Party is that nice.

 

Better a two-party state

Than just one in command

Despite how great the perception

Of that party’s plan.

 

I wish more to follow

And that they do so with haste

For just a singular endeavour

Would be a waste.

 

And not just backbenchers

But a Minister or two

Who are not just about money

But hold a national view.

 

Yes, I am aware

It would be a great sacrifice

But of such were our forefathers

That paid the price.

 

 

Whether Atherley regrets

I really do not know

But I have a strong suspicion

It was not for mere show.

 

He did lose his seat

In the subsequent election

But his conscience would be clear

If it was a true conviction.

 

Similarly, this thorn

That has pricked the PM

With the hope to bring resolution

To a parliamentary problem.

 

If only a few more

Would dare follow his lead

To bring a balance in Parliament

And do so with speed.

 

 

It takes two hands to clap,

One going against the other

But the applause that results

Makes us all feel better.

 

 

I applaud Mr. Thorne

And hope for some more

That will sit on the opposition seats

And form a respectful core.

 

A win for democracy

If such a move should unfold;

This is not for the faint of heart

But a conviction of the bold.

 

Stewart Russell © February 12, 2024

 

We the People 2

 

“We the people”

Do you understand this

Or is there something

You and I missed?

 

“We the people”

What does it mean?

From the use of this slogan

What can we glean?

 

“We the people”

How many I must ask

And do they all come

From a particular class?

 

“We the people”

Help me out here

For to be very honest

It is not clear.

 

“We the people”

Is this a democracy

Or is it another opportunity

For wannabes?

 

“We the people”

Echoes across the land

As a clarion call of commitment

To a national plan.

 

To the governed

From its Government

“We the people” is a declaration

Of national intent.

 

A pulling together

With a common focus

Re matters of common interest

Over which we fuss.

 

“We the people”

Has become an expression

To get gullible people to buy into

A mere impression.

 

It is often deceptive

And contrary to the truth

In that it is not truly the people

As there is no proof.

 

“We the people”?

No, “they the Government”

Using the “we the people” slogan

With divisive intent.

 

“We the people” says

We are in this together,

It’s an expression of camaraderie

That everyone matters.

 

A simple preamble

To a country’s Constitution

As an indication to the people

Concerning its resolution.

 

Without memoranda

Though not in every case

And regarding public consultation

Not a trace.

 

It is still “we the people”

Though not necessarily so

And some will vigorously contend

It is what the polls show.

 

Memorandum no need

The electorate have spoken,

“We the people” is now enshrined

And stamped by the governed.

 

No need to consult

Let the Government rule,

“We the people” have chosen them

And this is cool.

 

 

 

A ten second action

To decide a five-year term,

Accept “we the people” have spoken

And live, look and learn.

 

Stewart Russell © September 17, 2023

 

Taking Offence

Please do not take offence

I do not mean any,

I just want to share with you

What I heard recently.

 

It seems people offend me

Only when I take offence

And I show I am taking offence

When I go on the defense.

 

Sounds highly spiritual

But this is difficult to swallow

And I will go even further to say

It is somewhat shallow.

 

Don’t use this I beg you

To excuse your bad behavior

Because to me it is false pretense

Under which you labour.

 

 

Few walk around, I'd argue,

Just looking to take offence,

Not if it does not concern them,

No, it doesn’t make sense.

 

I would agree, however,

That some are rather thin-skinned

And therefore, the slightest thing

Is treated as very grim.

A bounce could be major

And a harsh word, more severe,

Never mind serious infractions

That would be harder to bear.

 

Yes, I take offence,

When wrong is done to me

Even though I soon put it aside

Without an apology.

 

Apologies are meaningless

If not from the heart,

And demanding one of someone

Is playing a fool’s part.

 

It is only an offence

When one puts a meaning to it,

Yes, with certain things I do agree

But with others, not a bit.

 

 

It also gives you leverage

To treat me however you like

Since I should never take offence

However severe or slight.

 

I am all for conciliation

And a willingness to forgive

But to pretend not to take offence

Is likely to be short lived.

 

If you pass and do not speak,

That’s not a major worry

But please help me to understand

You are not just unmannerly.

 

If you are unmannerly

This is the behaviour I’d expect

But if something was on your mind

Unmannerly I’d reject.

 

 

Communication is important

And thus, having taken offence,

I would get the proverbial ball rolling

In this particular instance.

 

Hence, allow me to take offence

At least as a means of resolution

Rather than sending a false signal

That just creates confusion.

 

So, no offence meant

And I trust that none was taken

But if there were in any way,

I ask to be forgiven.

 

Stewart Russell © September 9, 2023

 

Revelation, Revolution, Resolution

 

 

Quite close, you may say

And they must be related too,

And you would be right

For, certainly, that is my view.

 

These words jumped out at me

As I thought about salvation

And not long after this,

I began to see their connection.

 

The order you see is important

Just as is stated in this title,

Think about the salvation experience

And you would see how vital.

 

O, they are family, most definitely,

Out of one emerges the other,

But bear in mind each one’s position

Or else, there will be much bother.

 

 

First there must be revelation

And not revelation of any kind,

It must come from the Word of God,

Do not trust the worldly signs.

 

Some detail many ways to God,

Some religions point to their gurus,

But the revelation from God is clear

That Jesus is the only truth.

 

Some testify of reformation

And speak of an outward change,

But this change doesn’t reach inside

The heart must be rearranged.

 

The revelation that is from God

Initiates the real revolution,

It is the heart change that is necessary

From which emerges resolution.

 

A change from within to without

And not from without to within,

This work must be done from inside

For therein lies the root of sin.

  

At the heart of this matter

There is a spiritual rebirth,

Initiated by a heavenly revelation,

It is not of this earth.

 

 

Next, comes the revolution

That is the change from within,

A man must be born again

To take care of the problem of sin.

 

Thirdly, comes the resolution

Determining the way we walk

In adherence to the Holy Spirit

In our conduct, our service, our talk.

 

Together they constantly work

Somewhat in the way of the Trinity

The Father, the Son, and the Spirit

This is our true Christianity.

 

Stewart Russell © July 2019

 

Resolution Evaluation

 

At the beginning of the year, as usual

Like the traditional New Year people,

You made some critical resolutions

Hoping this time for some execution.

“How are they going?” I would want to ask,

“So far this year are you still on task?

Or, like the other years, have you forgotten

And those resolutions like fruit now rotten?”

I have no doubt that you had good intent

And that what you said you meant

But it is so hard to change a bad habit

And in any case you can’t do without it.

But why is it so difficult to change?

How can I have my life rearranged?

I am tired of what I do; I really am

But I never commit to my New Year plan.

Is it because you follow the tradition

When you make New Year resolutions?

Or do you really want to curb what you do

But don’t have the courage to see it through?

How long does it take before you fail?

What’s the longest that you have prevailed?

A week, a month or maybe half the year

Before all your resolutions just disappeared?

Was it the nature of the thing you tried?

Was it someone that you couldn’t deny?

Was the ideal too lofty and too high

Presenting you with odds you couldn’t defy?

Is it something that is wrecking your life?

Is it a practice that is causing you strife?

What would it cost you if with it you part?

How much does it really affect your heart?

Is it more important to you than your soul?

Is it hindering Jesus from making you whole?

If the answer to the last two questions is yes

You would always be failing the test.

  

Without Jesus our resolutions will fail,

All our bad habits will continually prevail,

In us is no lasting facility to change

Even those things we think we can rearrange.

Lasting change require a change of heart

Jesus must be on board from the very start,

His involvement is the fundamental principle

Any other support is merely superficial.

Making resolutions without Christ on board

Is like buying the most expensive car you can afford

Only to realize that the manufacturer’s guarantee

Is dependent on your very limited ability.

It is through our extremely limited facility

That we experience the power of God Almighty

To make the seeming impossible possible;

After all He is the architect of all miracles.

With that fundamental principle in its place

Let us now the chief resolution trace

The miracle of salvation by faith in God’s grace

That enables us to make that turn about face.

That is the resolution of all resolutions,

The one that should really occupy our attention,

Without this the rest are doomed to fail

And in no time at all our best efforts will derail.

Another matter of great importance here;

Resolutions can be made at anytime of the year,

The most opportune time is when you become aware

That is the time to put your resolution in gear.

Have you failed in your resolution thus far?

Don’t wait for a New Year to come on par,

Commit to Christ all that concerns you today

And he will bring it to pass in his own way.

While it is true resolution evaluation is a must

It can be accomplished without all the fuss,

In your ability you won’t even penetrate the crust

But success will be yours if in Christ you trust.

Stewart Russell © 2017