The word was out I heard the shout

'The Crusher is back in Town.

Toddie has turned his badge in

no longer the sheriff, he's stepped down”.

Out at the Flying 'J” ranch

Jacinda heard the news went white.

She shouted to Foreman Bloomfield

'Get Kelvin Davis out of sight!”

So MP Davis behind Jacinda

was quickly hustled away

to a safe house far up north

near a place I dare not say.

But where was Winston Peters?

No one had seen him about.

He could've been the National leader

before election results are out.

Winston could lead the party

without the need of a coalition

an idea so firmly rejected

when National was in transition.

Former sheriff Simon rose early

his ablutions complete

pulled on his cowboy boots

and went out on to the street.

But no one in excited mode

shouted his once famous name

sadly he was not to get

another shot at Party Leader fame.

Meanwhile at the Cowboys' saloon

Bruiser Brownlee was playing a blinder.

He told his newly elected Leader

that he was right behind her.

After Crusher Collins was elected

and silence replaced the sparks

the new leader went out training

by swimming with the sharks.

In the House of Representatives

the members sit in anticipation

waiting for the ‘crusher' effect

that will achieve full emancipation.

And the moral of this story is

if you aspire to lead the pack

best cover your front and sides mate;

and oh! don't forget your back!

B Conroy, Otumoetai