It’s Just a Problem

 

 

It’s just a problem,

Solve it!

It’s only a problem,

Don’t quit.

 

Sounds amazing,

Doesn’t it?

But does this advice

Every problem fit?

 

See that pupil

Struggling with Math?

Here is encouragement

For him at last.

 

Just a problem?

Oh, I can solve it,

That’s what you do with a problem

I don’t have to skip.

 

 

A changed attitude,

That is just it!

It’s just a problem!

Don’t quit.

 

Not so easy, I dare say,

Not so easy at all!

It might be just a problem

But I am stalled.

 

I cannot solve it,

No solution insight,

It is really beyond me

I’m not this bright.

 

“It’s just a problem”

Sounds really great

But I wish I knew how,

So much is at stake.

 

 

It’s just a problem,

Solve it!

All a problem requires

Is to solve it.

 

It’s no more

And no less,

Just find the solution

That fits it best.

 

It’s just a problem

So, find its solution

And let’s bring this poem

To a conclusion.

 

 

A word to the PM

Re our national ship,

It’s just a problem,

Solve it!

 

Every problem

Comes with a solution,

It’s somewhere out there

In the confusion.

 

The confusion

That leaders create

Either to conceal the truth

Or make it dissipate.

 

It’s just a problem,

Solve it!

Easier said than done

So, I quit.

 

Stewart Russell © February 28, 2025

A Problem Mentality

 

 

I thought I had a problem

For which I sought a solution

Only to create a situation

That caused a real problem.

 

Has this happened to you

Or, was it only me?

If it has, please don’t deny it,

Tell me, honestly.

 

I once heard of a man

Whose leg was amputated

Only to be told by the surgeon

The wrong leg was extricated.

 

And as if this were not enough

Nothing was wrong with the other,

A misdiagnosis by the surgeon

Had now become his bother.

No real problem at the first

But a solution had been sought,

The patient, now an amputee,

Was especially distraught.

 

If a problem cannot be found

This in itself becomes one,

Problems attend us when we come

Up until when we are gone.

 

No such thing as no problem,

Not in this present life!

So, if you believe you have none,

That in itself spells strife.

 

Women are especially good

At this strange phenomenon,

They go out of their way, it seems,

To ensure there is a problem.

 

Then they are trouble makers

Who go in search of problems,

Not to mention the problem prone:

They will always find them.

 

 

Call it creating problems:

People with an unusual skill

And like a glutton and his food,

These must have their fill.

 

I have a problem mentality,

I need to go out and find one

So, if you suddenly miss me,

That’s because I am gone.

 

Gone to find my problem,

My addiction urgently needs one

So here is just where I will stop

Because I must be gone.

 

Stewart Russell © June 27, 2023

 

Two Types of People

 

 

There are two types of people

In the world today

Or rather, in any given era,

Might be a better way to say.

 

And these should be obvious

As it pertains to life:

One set mitigates the problem

The other is bent on strife.

 

 

Set number one, I suggest,

Is about finding solutions

While the other, on the other hand,

Is bent on causing problems.

 

One manufactures a problem

For the other set to solve,

Pay attention to what I am saying

To see how our world revolves.

 

 

It comes over to me as

The law makers vs the law breakers

Or, put in another way:

The problem solvers and causers.

 

The difficulty of being proactive

In itself is a problem too

For, given the propensity for trouble,

There’s not much anyone can do.

 

One may anticipate trouble

And put some solutions in place

But concerning the how and when,

There mightn’t be a trace.

 

The case of watchman and villain

Or beat cop and thief,

The former is easily identifiable

The latter causes grief.

 

Like the proverbial chessboard:

On one side is the solution

And as most would understand

The other side is the problem.

 

 

Hence, the question here of late:

Are you a part of the solution?

Or, as the question invariably continues:

Are you a part of the problem?

 

The obvious point here

Is that we are one or the other

And should there be a case of both,

That would be a colossal bother.

 

That certain ambidextrous person

Himself, would be a problem

And must certainly be considered

Opposed to the solution.

 

 

One type sees a problem

In every contemplated solution,

The other sees a solution

In the case of every problem.

 

Herein is an interesting interplay

Particularly with the first type,

They become part of the problem

And expectantly offer little light.

 

The second type is willing to try

And try and try again

And unlike the other type

These don’t exacerbate the pain.

 

Again, I ask the question

Which of the two types are you:

One type the world can do without,

Are you among the other crew?

 

Stewart Russell © July 2020

 

 

De Christmas Hams

 

 

All ya check de hams?

Duh mek muh head grow,

De hams I does buy real small

But de price big fuh so.

 

I almost buy one

But I change muh mind

Cause I en taste piece o’ ham

In a long time.

 

Years, a matter o’ fact,

None en cross my mout

And at dat price dat I see today,

Uh sure would o’ spit it out.

 

No, I en turn SDA

I is still at Lodge Road,

Lodge Road Wesleyan Holiness

Is still my abode.

 

 

No, not whey I live,

Whey I does guh church,

If you tink I live in de church

You would hah be a jerk.

 

No, nuh insult meant,

Only if you did believe so

But I know you got better sense;

You and me both know.

 

Back to de hams, dough,

Dey expensive fuh trufe,

Look like yuh gine goh get a loan

Cause de price thro’ de roof.

 

Don’t get me wrong,

Dum is some big wuns too

But if you pocket anyting like mine,

Dem hams en fuh you.

 

Uh still goh buy one

An’ dat is eventually

Cause de fact o’ de matter is,

Uh goh a family.

 

 

Dem does still eat pork

And de pork products

So yuh see, even dough I don’t eat,

Uh still bust luck.

 

De hams look good, dough,

I en see nuh loh o’ fat

But wid de price o’ dis year hams,

Nuff people gine lack.

 

I wud suggest to wunna

Start a “Go-Fund-Me” now

If wunna seriously must have ham

Wid de Christmas chow.

 

Or do hire purchase

And pay down some,

Maybe wunna could pay de rest

When next year come.

 

 

Or fuhget de turkey

And buy de ham only,

Tell wunna family dat tings brown;

An’ it is eider ham or turkey.

 

Dem SDA’s real lucky

Dat dem doan eat pork

Cause de price o’ Christmas hams

En nuh joke.

 

Here’s my final solution

And it should work:

Pray and fast on Christmas day

And spend it in de church.

 

You’ll have some money

To stretch tillyuh get pay

Or, go and eat at family or friends

On Christmas day.

 

Yuh will get ham an’ turkey

And all o’ de niceties

And yuh will be certain to enjoy

Christmas festivities.

 

Stewart Russell © December 5, 2024