In faithful commemoration of the life of Halton Martin (Poem)

By Stanley Collymore

We weren’t only blood relatives who grew up in the

same socially cohesive St. Andrew community

of the Lakes District, we were also political

soul brothers, proud advocates in both

the defence and tirelessly laboured

and fought for advancement of

our mutual Black race, just

as we were also close

life-long friends.

Now tragically you’re no longer here among

us Hal. For Death has most pitilessly and

entirely unexpectedly taken you away,

not only from those who personally

knew and reciprocally loved you

but likewise has also provided

another unwarranted impediment in the long

running story of our peoples’ significantly

historic and fundamentally heroic fight

for our rightful recognition through

social emancipation, essential

political justice and the still

unresolved compensatory

fiscal requirements of

slavery and sensibly

colonial amends.

Making you during your prized life Hal

a steadfast fighter for all these things

and a great deal more. And, what

undeniably, I’m appreciatively

consoled by, my close blood

relation, established, very

cherished and a notable

friend, will be your

enduring legacy

Halton Martin.

© Stanley V. Collymore

23 March 2018.

Author’s Remarks:

You’ve prematurely in my view Hal, unhappily and most regrettably departed this world and are therefore physically no longer with those of us who knew and loved you, but in our hearts and minds as well as our memories you and your impressive legacy will live on forever in the profound admiration and thoroughly unshakable affection for you not just of current but also, as of yet unborn, future, similarly proud and immensely grateful generations Barbadians.

So farewell and not goodbye my dear friend and biological cousin embraced as you now are by the Almighty God and the heavenly throng, until those of us who have currently survived you meet up with you again, and this time in Celestial Eternity. Amen!