Who is this El Nino?

  

 

I hear talk about El Nino,

Pray tell me, who is he

That even in this month of November

Is causing me such misery?

 

Why, I can’t remember

A November that was so hot

For usually this is cooling down time

But we’re still in the pot.

 

I heard about his sister,

El Nino’s sister, I mean,

And it appears she isn’t nearly as bad;

El Nino is a scream!

 

Who is this El Nino?

I would truly like to know

And tell me who gives him the right

To torture me so.

 

Why is November so hot?

That is my question

And the answer comes, ask El Nino,

El Nino is the problem.

 

It’s not I’m not grateful

For a hurricane-less season

But they also say that for this occurrence

El Nino is the reason.

 

So, El Nino I thank you

That there were no storms

But cud-dear, as any Bajan would say,

It is definitely too warm.

 

You are sucking my life

And making me very languid

And I constantly reflect on my life

To find out what I did. 

 

 

 

Is this a consequence

Of something that man did?

I mean like messing with the weather

Or something real big?

 

Blame the fossil fuels

And the carbon dioxide,

The atmosphere is saturated, they say

And earth is getting fried. 

 

Tell me, is it really true

There is no end in sight

And that December could be as hot

Even in the night?

 

Tell me it’s my imagination

And not really true

Or at least tell me there’s something

That I can do.

 

Another month like this

Could take a man’s life

Especially if that man is up in years

Experiencing other strife.

 

I don’t need to spell it out

Seniors know what I mean

Especially those in the seventies or more

That can only dream.

 

I asked Ziggy this morning

What’s to be expected

And it was a temperature of 89 degrees

That Ziggy projected.

 

Please my dear El Nino

I am begging for some ease

Or at the very least cool down the heat

By sending some breeze.

 

Stewart Russell © November 8, 2026

 

Going with the Flow

 

Have you noticed these days

It is ‘going with the flow’?

Especially with fashion and design

We must be in the know.

It’s horrible if you please

To stick out like a sore thumb

So with the flow we must go

That is the race we must run.

Be it clothes or cellphones

We must be up to date

For even a year behind

Is something that we hate.

Be it Samsung or Apple

We must have the newest cellphone,

We daily surf the Internet

For the latest we must own.

It is not only about cellphones

But also the way we dress,

Not to be in the latest fashion

Is to fail a most important test.

Even minors who don’t work

Must always be up to scratch,

It’s more important than their meals

Can you believe that?

Even with their school uniform

It will be the minimum requirement

But thereafter do understand

The latest fashion is their intent.

The adults too are in the mix

Even those in their senior years,

Not ‘going with the flow’

Is numbered among their fears.

It’s not only about dress and phones

But also the way we talk

And it has crept into the church

Even in the way believers walk.

I am not talking about our gait

But our conversation and conduct

And many complain in the workplace

Christians can be quite abrupt.

Terse in their responses and replies

Always appear to be rushed,

And those who come into their contact

Will leave feeling particularly crushed.

Heard this one the other day

 A man’s cellphone rang in church,

From the pastor to his wife had a go

He was pretty much in the lurch.

He never stepped in church again

But found comfort in a bar,

There he found the support he needed

There he was treated like a star.

He was given a complementary drink

When he spilt his on the floor,

Unlike the people in the church

They did not point him to the door.

I am not trying to knock the church

To do that I would be the last

But we appear to be headed back

To things that characterized our past.

We feel that we must fit in

If we are to ever win the lost

And so with their flow we are bent,

They must be won at any cost.

The only flow there must be

Is the undiluted Gospel message

That if a sinner will turn to God

Then Jesus is the only bridge.

While the flow may be fashionable

And may be the easy way too

If a man will come to God

He will have to change his view.

  

A change of heart is imperative

A transformation must take place,

No longer going with the flow

But there must be an about face.

The only flow that matters

Is the flow of the blood of Christ,

That blood that flowed on Calvary

Is the only flow that will suffice.

Not the blood we sprinkle

For we cannot sprinkle the blood of Christ,

His was the crimson tide that flowed

There is no other sacrifice.

Sin sick souls are still washed

In the Lamb’s life giving flow,

To this fountain of life I entreat you

And now is the time to go.

Stewart Russell (c) April 2019