THE CROCODILES ARE CRYING

I RECEIVED THIS ODE IN MY E-MAIL TODAY AND THOUGHT IT VERY APT SO I DECIDED TO BLOG IT. Endless visions fill my head - this man - as large as life And instantly my heart mourns for his angels and his wife Because the way I see Steve Irwin - just put everything aside It comes back to his family - it comes back to his pride His animals inclusive - Crikey - light the place with love! Shine his star with everything he fought to rise above The crazy-man of Khaki from the day he left the pouch Living out his dream and in that classic ‘Stevo’ crouch Exploding forth with character and redefining cheek It’s one thing to be honoured as a champion unique It’s one thing to have microphones and spotlight cameras shoved It’s another to be taken in and genuinely loved But that was where he had it right - I guess he always knew From his fathers’ modest reptile park and then Australia Zoo We cringed at times and shook our heads - but true to nature’s call There was something very Irwin in the make up of us all Yes the more I care to think of it - the more he had it right If you’re going to make a difference - make it big and make it bright! Yes - he was a lunatic! Yes - he went head first! But he made the world feel happy with his energetic burst. A world so large and loyal that it’s hard to comprehend I doubt we truly count the warmth until life meets an end To count it now I say a prayer with words of inspiration May the spotlight shine forever on his dream for conservation My daughter broke the news to me, - my six year old in tears It was like she’d just turned old enough to show her honest fears I tried to make some sense of it but whilst her Dad was trying His little girl explained it best: she said ‘The crocodiles are crying’ Their best mate’s up in heaven now - the crocs up there are smiling! And as sure as flowers, poems and cards and memories are piling As sure as we’ll continue with the trademarks of his spiel Of all the tributes worthy - he was rough, but he was real As sure as ‘Crikey!’ fills the sky I think we’ll miss ya Steve: Goodbye RUPERT McCALL 2006