I am sure you are familiar with:
“Here we go again”
And it is often used
Regarding something thought insane.
To some it makes sense
But to some it does not
And while to the former it’s “hooray!”
To the latter it is rot.
Some say six is half dozen
Some say it is not,
Some say it happened already
And so, it’s our lot.
Some say it is a game
And is loaded with tricks,
Some say expect more of the same
In partisan politics.
Four questions emerge
Following is the list,
And to answer any of them
Incurs a risk.
A risk of being criticized
Or even victimized,
A risk of being terrorized
Or even ostracized.
What’s in a name?
What is this game?
Who gets the blame?
Who stands to gain?
One day is the given
On which two events did occur,
Two political parties are involved
And apparently did not confer.
Both have their interest
Which they are sworn to protect
But thirty-love says,
We are in; you are the rejects!
A mandate has been given
To change what we desire
And so, you can do nothing
About what has transpired.
Wunna could talk and march
Till the cows come home,
It is now Barbados National Day
Independence Day gone!
Yes, a whole lot of talk
On the changing of the name
And some are wondering,
“Is this a Mia game?”
Of all the Prime Ministers
That have ruled this Nation,
There are two that now stand out
In a close competition:
The Father of Independence
And the Mother of the Republic
And the latter is in the ascendancy
In the eyes of the electorate.
Thirty-love twice
With her at the helm
And no Parliamentary opposition
That can her proposals stem.
A gag order, seemingly,
On the mouths of her team
Except when they speak in her defense
Or her actions esteem.
A tremendous ability, she has,
At explaining away
And this satisfies most people
On any given day.
Perhaps there will be a change
On this particular issue
Or maybe, her principal competitor
Will be blocked from our view.
Some say that is impossible
But Owen has just gone away
And I don’t hear much talk about him:
At least not these days.
And given the COVID impact
And how this PM operated,
The rest will pale significantly
Or be completely obliterated.
There is clearly no blame
Except from the opposition
And their voices are too weak
To influence decisions.
But, who stands to gain?
Oh, that can be clearly seen:
It is the Mother of the Republic
Yes! The people’s queen!
I guess I have answered
The questions that emerged,
Whether you agree or not
Is not the scourge.
Whither Barbados
Is what we must ask,
And here we go again
Spells a herculean task.
In the final analysis
Whatever the name,
Barbados and Barbadians
Is more than a game.
Stewart Russell © November 3, 2022
