The Better Half

 

 

“Give my regards

To the better half.”

When someone tells me that

It makes me laugh.

 

I heard it today

Now hear my response

For I had to address it

There and at once.

 

Marriage is fifty-fifty

This was his bent,

Of course, he was saying

Each is fifty percent.

 

My spouse is not a half

And neither am I,

We both bring 100 percent

To the marriage pie.

 

When we became one

This meant everything,

It is all of her and all of me-

100% we both bring.

 

We are in this union

To give our optimum

And anything less than this

Will cause a problem.

 

 

This ‘better-half’ term

Is never the man,

It’s the woman that’s better-

Understand this, fam.

 

It is usually a man

That will use this term

So, this admonition is to men,

We’ve much to learn.

 

 

In any marital union

It must be 100 percent,

Neither partner is better-

Reject that bent!

 

Treat the other as equal

With love and respect

And this better half notion

You must reject.

 

Give one 100 percent

And marriage will work,

Fifty percent is not enough

And will only hurt.

 

 

Next time someone asks

How’s the better half,

Don’t even bother to answer,

Just simply laugh.

 

They’ll think you’re mad

But it is really they,

Just enlighten their darkness

And point the way.

 

Stewart Russell © December 27, 2023

 

The Ending Matters

 

 

He was not the second king

And he was not the third

Can you guess which one?

Check it out in God’s word

 

He came from a tribe

A case of the last being first

And without much experience

Into kingship was immersed

 

He was up above all

As king he was quite tall

He was chasing after animals

When he first received the call

 

He was the people’s choice

Well, more or less

Since they rejected the King

That was their best

 

He started out well

But like many his end was not

He was finally dethroned

But he suffered a lot

 

 

He rejected God

And sought his successor’s life

After giving his daughter

To this champion to wife

 

He became very jealous

Of the younger prospect

That received more praise than he

And much greater respect

 

He disregarded the prophet

And offered the sacrifice

And as a consequence

He paid a hefty price

 

God rejected him

It was the final straw

He would finally seek advice

From a witch at Endor

  

Quite a dismal story

I am sure you would agree

Name the king inferred

If you are not too blind to see

 

He fell on his own sword

After his amour-bearer refused

But an Amalekite took the claim

And his life too did lose

 

 

This king erred exceedingly

He had played the fool

This was his very sentiment

Even while he ruled

 

At which verse did you guess?

The first was meant to mislead

But if you guessed it by verse 3

Then you are up to speed.

 

Stewart Russell © May 2019

 

What A Travesty!

 

 

The poor get poorer

And it appears so by design

While the rich become richer

Via white collar crime.

 

They live on the hog!

Oh, they live very well

And this is economic prudence

I hear some tell.

 

It requires very little

To pay political technocrats

Compared to the public servants

And this is the fact.

 

Back breaking work

In the hot broiling sun

And those in air condition offices

Having fun.

 

Those at the top

Are paid handsome salaries

Since to pay those at the bottom

Is harsher on the treasury.

 

 

It is easier it seems

To pay the experts a lot

While a few crumbs must satisfy

Those at the lowest spot.

 

The top rungs complain

Their salary is not enough,

That given their expected lifestyle

They are finding it tough.

 

Pretending to work hard

But hardly working

And drawing wads of dollars

For basically shirking.

 

It is far fewer of them

So, they should be given more

Compared to that broad base

That we call the poor.

 

 

No principle, I say,

And what a travesty

That those on the topmost rungs

Can rape the treasury!

 

After all, it is clear

That they call the shots

Determining their high salaries

And those of the poor lot.

 

Yes, a mere pittance

Is accorded the poor

With the oft repeated promise

Someday they’ll get more.

 

None to fight their cause?

None who understand?

What a travesty, I must say!

What a horrible plan!

 

Stewart Russell © February 15, 2024

 

Feelings and Reality

 

 

A feeling is real

But not necessarily a reality,

This is applicable to you

As well as to me.

 

What a person’s reality is,

Is not always real,

This happens to the very young

As well as the old and frail.

 

The old folk see things

That we know are not there

But they are so sure of them

That they are gripped by fear.

 

It makes no difference

What arguments we bring,

At the end of our submissions

They see the same thing.

 

It is their reality

At that particular time

And while we know it is not real

It’s the reality in their mind.

 

A dream and the real

Can sometimes confuse a child

And if forced to choose,

He might be unable to decide.

 

Quite a lot these days

Is being decided on feelings

And even the law courts

Consider this in their dealings.

 

I don’t mean the human face

That motivates our decision

To reach out with a helping hand

To demonstrate compassion.

 

I mean abnormal feelings

That are naturally unreal

That are quite similar in kind

To which mad people appeal.

 

When feelings become the premise

For determining a reality

This would be a sure indicator

Of universal insanity.

 

But hold on a minute!

I am not quite through yet,

Please note, the trajectory we are on

Suggests we are well set.

 

We allow the insane

To demonstrate how mad we are

For in treating their madness

We make them a star.

 

Since then, madness is honored

While sanity is refuted,

And what was understood as reality

Is now being fiercely disputed.

 

Feelings and reality

Who can tell the difference?

Now that feelings have eliminated

What once was pretense.

 

 

Our dreams are becoming true

As we live out our feelings daily

But nightmares are the reality

As evidenced by our depravity.

 

Stewart Russell © October 2019

 

Difficult to Swallow

 

 

Occasionally I have a dream,

I find particularly strange,

I am trying to swallow but can’t

Though I strain.

 

My mouth appears full

For whatever reason

And though you may laugh,

This isn’t fun.

 

What is even stranger

Is that I do not think to spit,

This should give some ease

But I do think of it.

 

Fortunately, I would wake

Before I choke,

May I remind you, my friend,

This isn’t a joke.

 

It is like whatever it is

Is just lodged in your throat,

Sometimes it happens in real life

And we should take note.

 

There is the physical form

Similar to my dream

Only that in real life experience

It’s a terrifying scene.

 

 

Help is urgently required

To stop that one from choking

And again, I remind you,

I am not joking.

 

Then there is an argument

That just doesn’t wash

In which the opposer is adamant

That it should be squashed.

 

It is difficult to swallow

It just does not make sense

But when explained to the proposer,

He or she takes offence.

 

I will give you an example

Straight from the Bible

In which words mean the opposite

According to some people.

 

Take the book of Revelation

Where certain words are used

Then examine the interpretation

Which some people choose.

 

Must shortly come to pass

For some means 2000 years hence,

I do not mean to be ridiculous

Do not take offence.

 

For the time is at hand

Means a very long time off,

If I say it has already happened

I know some will scoff.

 

Then there is ‘quickly’

Found seven times in this book,

For your own satisfaction

Go and take a look.

 

 

Some interpret quickly

As how fast it will happen

But the context of each passage

Says when it will be done.

 

Which must shortly be done

Cannot mean how fast,

To make this phrase say such

Is a phenomenal task.

 

It is imminent

Even at the door!

Not two thousand year later

But two thousand before!

 

It is difficult to swallow

It was for me too

But I let the Word speak for itself,

You should do so too.

 

Don’t be too quick to interpret

Before noting what the Bible says,

Must shortly come to pass

Can’t be 2000 years.

 

Stewart Russell © September 10, 2023

 

Not Sorry At All

 

 

I am not sorry

That Mia was pricked,

I wish a few more would follow-

A ‘no-opposition is sick.

 

Thus, the status of Barbados

Ever since 2018,

Only a Parliamentary opposition

Can change this scene.

 

It may be possible

To fight your own shadow

But any self-determined win

Will likely be hollow.

 

Thirty seats was a mistake

Once and then twice,

And whatever the perception,

No Party is that nice.

 

Better a two-party state

Than just one in command

Despite how great the perception

Of that party’s plan.

 

I wish more to follow

And that they do so with haste

For just a singular endeavour

Would be a waste.

 

And not just backbenchers

But a Minister or two

Who are not just about money

But hold a national view.

 

Yes, I am aware

It would be a great sacrifice

But of such were our forefathers

That paid the price.

 

 

Whether Atherley regrets

I really do not know

But I have a strong suspicion

It was not for mere show.

 

He did lose his seat

In the subsequent election

But his conscience would be clear

If it was a true conviction.

 

Similarly, this thorn

That has pricked the PM

With the hope to bring resolution

To a parliamentary problem.

 

If only a few more

Would dare follow his lead

To bring a balance in Parliament

And do so with speed.

 

 

It takes two hands to clap,

One going against the other

But the applause that results

Makes us all feel better.

 

 

I applaud Mr. Thorne

And hope for some more

That will sit on the opposition seats

And form a respectful core.

 

A win for democracy

If such a move should unfold;

This is not for the faint of heart

But a conviction of the bold.

 

Stewart Russell © February 12, 2024

 

What A Façade!

 

 

Delay of gratification

Delay of results

Delay of justice

Oh, what an insult!

 

Delay of compassion

Delay of assistance

Delay of doing right

With deliberate insistence.

 

Removal of rights

And the promotion of wrong,

The discoloration of truth-

Everything belongs.

 

What a farce!

What a façade!

Unrighteousness trumps truth

And many are glad.

 

Money, the bottom line

And the top line view,

In the so-called church

And in Parliaments too.

 

 

Money mek de mare fly

And lots more as well

And as the opportunists get richer,

Ain’t nuttin dey won’t sell.

 

Every man has a price

That is what they say,

Never mind how good he may be

He’ll change if you pay.

 

This is really sad

If it is truly so,

Particularly to the church

It’s like a death-blow.

 

What a farce! 

What a façade!

Who or what to believe?

Boy, tings bad!

 

 

I can give a solution

But a mind tells me don’t

And even though I am not sure,

I believe I won’t.

 

You’ve heard it before

I have no doubt,

If you are a part of the mess

It’s time to get out.

 

The ‘it’ in the last verse

Refers to the solution,

However, let me emphatically say,

It’s not absolution.

 

Stewart Russell © January, 2024

 

Nothing

 

 

 

Sometimes our scholarship

Goes right to our head,

And we replace the explicit word

For what we think instead...

 

And give scholastic interpretations

Where none was required

To render a meaning

That our religious sect desires.

 

Simple words like “all”

Will throw us down

And drive us to Greek and Hebrew

As we try dancing around.

 

Maybe another time

We will have a look at “all”

But it is the word “nothing”

With which I am enthralled.

 

Once we couldn’t use a word

To explain the meaning of the word,

That by any teacher

Would be considered absurd.

The dictionary defines nothing

As “nothing at all”

Maybe such dictionaries

Need to be recalled.

 

I have a different view

From what some would advance,

A universal understanding

Needs not be enhanced.

 

Nothing means “nothing”!

That is what “nothing” means,

There is nothing more to “nothing”

And nothing more to be gleaned.

 

Who shall separate us

From the love of God?

What type of question is herein asked

If you said rhetorical, you I applaud.

Eight questions are asked

In a single verse

And the obvious answer is “nothing”.

No apology for being terse.

 

 The opening question is who

But all of the others imply what,

Go now to Romans 8 verse 35

And find the exact spot.

 

Sometimes the word “nothing”

Can be difficult to understand

So the writer goes on

With a clearly thought out plan.

 

Two more verses are used

Read verses 38 and 39

And “nothing” is the answer

That comes back every time.

 

In this Paul was persuaded

That the answer was “nothing”

But it is too good to be true

So we can’t stop digging.

Okay nothing Is understood

But what about no one?

And to this I would like to say

Come on, be gone!

 

But as a good teacher

Paul would never do that

So he enlightens one and all

With yet another fact.

 

Nor any other creature

Is his answer to this,

That should cover everyone

Unless there is something I missed.

 

But some are still desperate

And in one last attempt

Will suggest the person himself,

That’s the “who” they present.

 

Paul’s response to that

Is “nor any other creature” again

So be happy in Jesus

And avoid this stress and strain.

 

Nothing means nothing

Please understand

That God is more than able

To accomplish His plan.

 

Stewart Russell © October 2019