August Come It Must

 

 

August come it must

But it already did!

Hurricane Beryl, I mean,

And she didn’t kid.

 

On the 1^st July

She was not on standby

But with some ferocity

She let her winds fly.

 

Too soon in June

She had started up,

A category 4 before landfall

Promising a bitter cup.

 

 

And a bitter cup it was

In the Caribbean,

Union Island and Carriacou

Devastating scenes!

 

 

Announced in June

Long before August,

Its devastation evident in July

Ferocious and robust.

 

Beryl in her rage

Not caring about order,

Mixing up the three months

Tore up our border.

 

But this was good

Compared to another

Where the fallout from Beryl

Is a horrid bother.

 

Years it will take

To fix Beryl’s damage,

But for now, we’ll have to see

What can be salvaged.

 

August come it must

But it already did!

Hurricane Beryl, I mean,

And she didn’t kid.

 

I have a question

Now that August is here,

It is so early in this season

I tremble with fear.

 

What’s on offer

Is my question to August,

Please, not another like Beryl,

She was too rough!

 

 

 

Do notice the plea

And let us join in prayer

Not another like Hurricane Beryl

No, not this year!

 

Stewart Russell © August 1, 2024

 

An Obituary

 

 

We’re happy to announce

The passing of July,

Next door to June and August,

Also known as standby.

 

Too soon had ended

And her cue was standby

But she went beyond her duty

Did little Miss July.

 

She’ll be remembered

Just like September

For she robbed in her sojourn

Both native and stranger.

 

She toured the Islands

Of the pristine Caribbean

And left her indelible print

On many a scene.

 

Up to Houston she went

And had a grand time

Proud to show all and sundry

She was a July of a kind.

 

 

Pardon me, I mixed up

Poor July with Beryl,

They will both be remembered

For their horrible peril.

 

July passed away

Exactly 12 this morning

And by very special request

There’ll be no mourning.

 

Her daughter, Beryl

Will also be interred

And while we’d like to forget them

They’ll be remembered.

 

No mourning colours

By special request

And thank God, despite Beryl,

We are still blessed.

 

Do all you can

To help those in need

As these months are passing

With ferocious speed.

 

Stewart Russell © August 1, 2024