Independence/Republic

 

 

Independence or Republic:

Which of these are we?

Constitution notwithstanding,

Can we say we are free?

 

Does it really matter

Wrangling over such?

To you and me in all seriousness,

Does it mean so much?

 

What do captions, pray tell,

If our lifestyles don’t comply?

Can it be culturally Barbadian

If captions tell a lie?

 

Independence or Republic

What do we celebrate

In this festive month of November

On its special date?

 

How do we differentiate

And is there a need

Since both events fall on 30^th November;

Tell me, what do you feel?

 

 

The folk songs are traditional

So too, the events and folklore,

How do we reflect the Republic

Unless we add some more?

 

Independence in 1966

A Republic in 2022

But in reality, nothing has changed,

What differently can we do?

 

It would have been better

It they were done together

But 56 years apart, I am sure you agree,

Doesn’t resolve this matter.

 

Cultural practices build up

Over many a year

And Barbados, as a young Republic,

Is still in first gear.

 

A caption is all there is

With nothing more to support

And not even a Republic Constitution

Informing our Law Court.

 

Independence still reigns

With its songs and folklore

And culturally, nothing has changed,

It’s just like before.

 

God bless Bim

On Independence Day”;

Republic would sound rather strange

If it were sung that way.

 

The Barbados Coat of Arms

And the National Flag:

Tell me what would we do with these?

And there’s more in the bag.

 

The National Pledge

And the National Anthem:

You’d have to throw out these too,

I reckon.

 

Oh, How I still wish

They had happened together:

Our Independence and Republic

Wouldn’t be a bother!

 

The Republic of Barbados

Oh, what a name!

But without a Republic Constitution,

Can we make that claim?

 

It may be a caption for now

Or just a mere title,

But procuring the new Constitution

Is extremely vital.

 

Other than the cosmetics

Regarding the name changing,

We can expect no more significance

Than deckchairs rearranging.

 

 

We’re better than the Titanic

In that we are still afloat,

However, let’s be exceedingly careful;

It’s no time to gloat.

 

Stewart Russell © November 18, 2024

 

The Money Trap

 

 

 

Is it really possible

To be trapped by money

And I mean mentally possible

As well as literally?

 

Well, it appears so

Particularly given the facts,

Some have been so trapped

They could not turn back.

 

Picture a millionaire

A multi-millionaire even,

Yea man, way to go-

Not a problem!

 

Project even further

To a multi-billionaire,

With so much money to hand

He definitely gone clear!

 

There is nothing in life

That he cannot buy

And he could live on the hog

Till the day he dies.

 

Of course, at this point

Enters the money trap,

All of those multi-billions

Can’t bring life back.

 

I draw your attention

To the ongoing narrative

Where those five on a submersible

May not even live.

 

Five most valuable lives

Including the CEO

Battling with the grim reaper

Quite a distance below.

 

 

In the briny deep

To view an ancient wreck-

The Titan visits the Titanic

No lives on its deck.

 

The Titanic meaning

Of great force and power-

An unsinkable sea-craft

Ending in horror.

 

Then you have the Titan

A colossus, a giant,

From all the tests done-

Definitely reliant.

 

Life is more than words

Or billions even

And death is not put off

By demigods or demons.

 

It is an appointment,

That is as much as we know

And whether rich or poor

To death we will all go.

 

And so, these five souls

By all means very rich

Find themselves in a situation

That is as dark as pitch.

 

Billions of dollars

Were spent on this project:

A trip on the Titan

To view the Titanic.

 

 

Looks like a money trap;

Oxygen running out

And whether they can be rescued

Is in serious doubt.

 

Two other multi-billionaires

Are planning a cage fight,

One man with all of this money

Just don’t seem right.

 

Travelling to outer space

Is another of their hobbies,

They need to do much better

Spending their money.

 

It is a money trap

And will surely end in death

For money, as I see it,

Can’t buy another breath.

 

If you’ve got more money

Than meets your demands

Then helping the less fortunate

Would be a great plan.

 

Stewart Russell © June 22, 2023