Garth Rattray | The year in rear view

There’s little good to say about, this year that just went by,

It started out with us knowing that many were going to die.

It began like any other year; we celebrated midnight’s chime.

Everything seemed to go so fast, oh where went the time?

It lay before us to be written, this empty slate of a year.

No one knew that it would bring many changes and much to fear.

We hoped and prayed that crime would wait for just a few days more.

But the New Year’s Day murder in St James told us what was in store.

Then came the deadly crashes, they would not be left behind,

We just can’t seem to learn, it’s safer if to each other we are kind.

Driving as if they’re the only ones on a desert plain so vast,

Why the madness, why the rush, why so dangerous, why so fast?

We all got wind of a terrible virus, in China, far away,

We hoped and prayed that forever more, over there it would stay.

But no place on Earth would be spared, for it was plain to see,

That with aeroplanes going everywhere, it would soon face you and me.

And not too far away from here, in the powerful USA

Some were trying to oust from power, the president of the day.

He’s not our favourite personality, not our cup of tea,

Because of Trump, America’s shores were hostile to the refugee.

We watched with bated breath, and prayed for his political demise,

The world was tired of his shenanigans, fed up with all his lies.

Although we’re not Americans, not even a territory,

We longed to see the back of him, from his influence to be free.

Impeached but not fired, it was a sad day, but most of all,

More bad news was on its way, COVID-19 now stood tall.

It threw economies of the world into a frightening tailspin,

Their financial reserves were drained severely, and left very thin.

Loss of jobs and closures of businesses here, there and everywhere,

Steady and secure employment became a thing very rare.

Distancing and sanitising and covering up with masks,

Had become burdensome chores, very difficult tasks.

And through it all, an unpleasant thing maintained its scarlet stain,

Crime and violence never let up, on the street, the road and lane.

Single, double, multiple murders of men, women, young and old.

We can’t figure out their callousness, how could anyone be so cold?

Unnecessary deaths from crashes, and vicious murders alike,

And now COVID joined in, to cause another deadly spike.

But our government took charge, and our citizens played along,

Better a tune of longing and frustration, than a funeral song.

Stressed by confinement and restrictions, all across the nation,

Emancipendence finally rolled around, a time for celebration

Bored and irritable citizens, at last their cares unleashed,

Time for merry making, family, friends and feast.

But several went too far, outside their bubbles they strayed.

The spike that followed told the tale of a dead horse being flayed.

Some just don’t understand, and others just don’t care.

For the burden to avoid COVID is often very hard to bear.

Visitors, both citizens and foreigners, on our island arrived,

But some broke the rules, with crooked officials, they contrived.

They bribed to avoid being tracked, they used two phones, you see,

One was left at one place, while the other set them free.

And so our COVID cases, began to take a toll,

Aided and abetted by a major political poll

The general elections, were called before the due date,

The Jamaica Labour Party, decided to fly the gate.

The People’s National Party, suffered variance from deep within,

With that plus flailing efforts, they certainly couldn’t win.

So, lose they did and they did lose big, the biggest in a long while,

Devastated and struggling, they’re still searching to find a new style.

Then came the big election, in the US of A

When Biden beat Trump, oh what a joyous day.

No more empowerment, of prejudice, of white supremacy and hate,

We’re longing for January, when Trump exits the White House gate.

And all this time, COVID-19 remains a thorn in our side,

Naysayers and detractors, careful citizens, they deride,

But trying to keep safe, should be the order of the day,

To remain healthy and alive, we must all strive to stay.

We’re glad to see the end, of this most awful year,

For its long-awaited departure, no one will shed a tear.

We have the power to make 20 21 better for our island home.

A Happy New Year when it comes, this is the end of my poem.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.