Dear John

What’s with those wild and wicked winds here today?

Or should I say those god-damn winds?

Did you really need to mastermind such a spectacular send-off?

You said it yourself, that your ego always compelled you to be in the middle of it all. 

One day you’re in the urn at your funeral-
and the next you’re kicking up a dandy ol’ storm that has us all here in your beloved province bemusing ourselves by the force of nature unleashed on us.

They’re calling it the storm of the century, John. 

Really, did you have to go that outrageous?

Ah, but perhaps  nature at this time is merely emulating you 

and your grand force  and spirit while here amongst us.

After all ,
You were a showstopper.
A brilliant entertainer.
A bewitching tour de force.
An alchemist that could conjure up the most mighty and bewildering of expressions, carefree one liners and crazy-good quips.

The storm has us all gawking like celebrity watchers,  

waiting on the many nuances  and outcroppings of it show of force.  

We are all enthralled here today and tonight 

at another Almighty and impressive spirit 

that has come blowing through our lives.

Just like you John
this storm is bedazzling us with each magic huff, puff and god-forsaken gust.

Just like you,

it has a certain comforting charm

 - we’re all inside cozy, snug, fed  

and being entertained by a gift that passes by, but once in a century.

Yes, John, like you,

it is empowering our very nerve-  to the point we can rise up 

with our storm chips and stiff drinks 

and tell this bloody storm to go kiss our arses right now. 

Blow all you want, no you can’t rattle us 

- we’re from John Crosbie country. 

We’re people of the Cod 

- you can’t get a more courageous and saucy  breed than that.

As the winds howl and the white stuff inches up the door, 

we wonder how many times Mulroney and your colleagues

 wanted to declare a state of emergency when you spoke.

But in the end John, your dear friend, the former PM said it well. 

“It was a gift to have a John Crosbie in your cabinet” 

- though he did impose one condition-  “but only one”.

Yes, it’s a helluva brazen, loud-mouthed, outspoken ol' blizzard out there

- hurricane force, they reckon.

And like you-  one of the finest son of Newfoundland

- this storm and your kin only come around every hundred or so years.

Yup, one of a kind.  You can hardly top that.

For years all down life’s path,
we will be talking about you John,

and this storm- all in the same breath. 

You both drew admiration for an impressive performance.

But, it’s  all good, now John.  

Soon, this storm will pass just as you came and went in our lives. 

All things in life must come and go 

and we remain grateful of the blessings you both brought.

Tomorrow, there will be tons of snow to shovel, 

but you and this storm 

- and of course the daily weather - 

will always be in our minds and part of our chatter. 

Dear John - just one more thing
Can you just “quiet down, baby” 

and work on the most brilliant of performances?

Get those Cod back

in our god-damn water! 

After all you are the Codfather

- and you're now in storm central 
to unleash such a divine miracle.

-30-