Diminished in A Moment

  

 

Get your act together

Or we’ll treat you like the rat,

If such were said to you,

Would you take that?

 

And what about your pride?

Would any at all be left

Or would you only hear the welcome

And to the rest be deaf?

 

The bosom is very close

So, every eye will be on you,

Would you still be feeling accepted

Regarded with such a view?

  

You could be an opportunist

Or perhaps seen as a plant

To offset their enduring institution

But understand you can’t.

 

Barely four years passed

And that you disliked now like,

Is it really the case, Mr. Defector

You have seen the light?

 

 

 

Did your constituents know:

Those who voted for you,

That you were parting ways with them

And are finally through?

 

R.A.T. crossed the floor

Just like the bishop before

But you, sir, had everyone guessing

Before closing the door.

 

Maybe you were smarter

And displayed a better timing

In winning the nomination in the city

Before the bell was ringing.

 

 

 

Just in time Mr. Defector,

Or already in the bosom

Having been accepted by the PM

And past sins forgotten?

 

You may be riding high

Or so you may be feeling

But to be welcomed in such a way

To me is quite revealing.

 

Maybe you’ll win the seat

But what about your pride?

The fact that you are being used

Cannot be denied.

 

 

Diminished in a moment:

Insult followed success,

Mr. Defector, it definitely seems to me

You are a pawn at best.

 

Maybe there was a reason

You had lost your voice,

Perhaps your vocal-chords doubted

The reason for your choice.

 

From a dying institution

To one that seems invincible,

The fact you’re at the bottom of the pack

To me is inescapable.

 

It is an interesting lane

To which you have switched

But in the best interest of the city folk

I hope you can make it fit.

 

 

 

Representation in the courts

Is different from Parliament,

In the former you are paid for services

In the latter you are a servant.

 

 

 

In one you decide your pay

In the other, the Government,

But note it’s the money of taxpayers

Whom you represent.

 

Diminished in a moment

By the Deputy PM

So, tell me in all sincerity Mr. Defector,

Are you through with the Dems?

 

Stewart Russell © January 19, 2026

 

But Are They Ready?

 

 

Here it is on a platter,

Take it if you can,

The errors of our Government

Seem to be a plan.

 

Error after error

Has become the norm,

These batters are now batting

Like batters uninformed.

 

A tad of recklessness

Showing here and there

As though someone is trying

To get out of here.

 

No one to oppose

In Parliament, I mean,

And Ministers doing what they like

And so too their team.

 

 

A deputy who is PM

Since the PM is often out,

Her international positioning

Must never be in doubt.

 

An Education Ministry

Clearly out of step

And contrary to their opinion,

Headed for a wreck.

 

What is really troubling

Is the blatant fallout

That gravely affects our children

Like a poisoned water-spout.

 

Trauma after trauma

But “lessons are being learnt,”

The words of those in authority

As our children are burnt.

 

Seems a little calloused

The little I can see

But I am a little shortsighted

And can’t see clearly.

 

 

We are digging a hole

 And pulling in the dirt,

A financial grave more or less

That will cause much hurt.

 

Hurt to our children

And our children’s children,

Payback time for them too

Will also be a problem.

 

You’re probably wondering

When I’ll get to the theme,

This is the saddest part for me

Given the current scene.

 

No one to oppose

In Parliament, I mean,

And Ministers doing what they like

And so too their team.

 

 

A few voices oppose

On the Call-in Programme

And the People’s Opposition

Seems to have a plan.

 

But is the DLP ready?

This is the question I ask,

Given all that will be required

It is a herculean task.

 

Like a good fielding side

They must take their catches,

The BLP is batting recklessly

And giving many chances.

 

These are catches, note,

That go up pretty high

And the fielder has time to settle

To claim the offered prize.

 

 

These are not slip catches

Coming at a clip

But the easiest of easy catches

That should always stick.

 

 

 

Looking at the issues,

Settling down under them

And in the interest of the nation

Projecting the problem.

 

Not only on radio

But in the constituencies,

From community to community

As a matter of urgency.

 

Making action happen,

Not just sitting and waiting

But being vigilant and diligent,

Not just moping.

 

Joining the protesters,

Giving body to their charge,

It is not nearly about BLP and DLP

But our nation by and large.

 

I have seen marches

With 100 persons or less,

Given the gravity of the issues

This is not a protest.

 

Still getting ready?

How long in first gear?

I wish currently they were ready

But they are not I fear.

 

We must go beyond

The seasonal campaign

When we rain down on communities

Promising to ease the strain.

 

This is clickety-clack

With cacophonous sound

But really and truly means nothing,

Other than nowhere bound.

 

I wish they were

But are they truly ready?

With the BLP seemingly losing ground,

They should be rock-steady.

 

But are they ready?

I must ask again,

The DLP must build out capacity

If they are to bear the strain.

 

 

Or else, come 2027,

Or even the year before,

We may have a one-sided Parliament

Unfortunately, once more.

 

It is my earnest hope

That this does not happen,

But given all that is occurring

I am feeling threatened.

 

Gather your loins DLP,

Save us from this plight!

Be a part of the next Parliament

In this worthwhile fight.

 

Partisanship is all right

Once there is more than one,

My prayer is in the next election

This madness will be gone.

 

Stewart Russell © October 15, 2023