The Trident Nation

As sure as eggs we no more roam

Like strangers on the land

For with pride we have covered our nudity

Laid bare by the esoteric doings

Of the white plantocracy

That made darkies till the land

While ignoring the cries of Payne

The Trini they did not understand

So pandemonium in 1937.

Broke out on the island.

The barking yell

Of the whites is now history

So the story goes

That the red, white and blue band

That tied the union with jack

Has been broken

By Dipper

And because of that

The colonial drums and the scepter sway

Have left this beautiful land

On the thirtieth of November

Nineteen sixty-six.

The imperialist footprints

Are nowhere on our sands.

As a trident nation

Barbadians are free

And so very proud are we

Of forty-six years of history.

Independence has give us back the dignity

Of a sound mind and state

With all kinds of food on the table

To celebrate in heroic style

The bitter with the sweet

As we jam on the highway

Together.

So as a sovereign nation on its own

We are blessed with children

Of every race and tone

A kaleidoscope of colour

Human capital blooming brightly

United under the Trident Flag

Flying so high with all its might.

One love, one nation

For its sons and daughters all

Such pride for our country

Is no wanton boast.

We are a young developing nation

And so in the process we worship God

And in Him we put our trust

For it is the sure way to success.

Now on this national day

Of Independence

We must reflect on the past

Then look ahead with confidence.

So like the proven skills and dexterity

Of Sir Gary Sobers

We as a nation can

Bat and bowl on any wicket.

©Paterika Hengreaves