by Joan E. Wilson

Have you noticed all the building work going on around us at this moment?

I cannot ever remember such a lot of construction work being executed here in my life time. Looking ahead there appears to be even more in the pipeline.

Even a 20, 50, plus story high rise that I hope doesn't happen.

However, to make way for all this NEW building work there was often something in the way. An OLD building that had to go.

Do you remember the old Holiday Inn where The Barefoot Band used to play? Where we Caymanians used to meet with the ex-pat residents and the tourists? Now it seems its segregation. What a pity. The only time I seem to meet the tourists is at Elmslie Church.

There had better not be any talk of bulldozing Elmslie Church down!!!

Years ago, when I was able to write, I wrote a poem about a bulldozer knocking down that aforementioned Holiday Inn, and Colin thought it would be a good time to republish it here.

So here it is, and I hope you enjoy going back in time.

THE
MIGHTY BULLDOZER

By Joan (Watler) Wilson

I
wonder what it feels like being in the driver's seat,

And
to have such power riding beneath one’s feet?

Knowing
the walls could never withstand

The
force of the mighty bulldozer.

*

Did
he ever give a thought of how long it had taken

To
build those walls that he was breaking?

Walls
that could withstand almost anything

Except
for the force of the mighty bulldozer.

*

And
what about the friendly outside bar

Where
people came from near and far?

To
have a drink or dance the night away

Tumbled
so easily by the mighty bulldozer.

*

And
the gorgeous pool enjoyed by all,

Young
ones, old ones, big and small,

Where
swimming was always a pleasure

'Til
it got destroyed by the mighty bulldozer.

*

And
whatever happened to the Barefoot Man and Band?

I
hope they weren't buried in the rubble and sand?

'Cause
we'll miss the sound of country and calypso

Above
the noise of the mighty bulldozer.

*

I
felt real sympathy for the many employees

Who
did everything to strengthen their pleas.

To
halt destruction of their home away from home

By
the knock of the mighty bulldozer.

END

From my book of Poems and Ponderings - "Buried Treasures of Cayman - My Memories"