The First Poem
Pre-Election Thoughts
We view with fascination
All the rampant speculation
That a General Election looms anew,
Everybody sits and waits
While J.R. procrastinates
And the hopefuls simply simmer in their stew.
Crosbie (John) is itching
For full power. He s party switching.
He feels the time is ripe to change command.
Rest assured he'll never rue it
If with gumption he'll pursue it
And dedicate himself to Newfoundland.
A curious sort of fellow
J.R.S. just didn't mellow,
Though his years suggest he gracefully retire.
We predict a mass rejection
If he tackles this election
Being burnt so long electors dread the fire.
Rather than fly in a rage
Joe should be more wise - a sage
Give youth and new ideas one big chance
Then his memoirs he could write
To occupy each day and night
And cover House proceedings as freelance.
Comments
Published February 18, 1970
This was fairly brave for a first publication. He suggests the current Premier (Joey Smallwood, the first and up to then only Premier of Newfoundland as a province of Canada) has no chance in the next election and should retire. He even suggested Joey write his memoirs instead. Smallwood did lose that next election, and upon his retirement from politics he did indeed write and publish several books, including his memoirs.