WHERE NATURE SMILES
‘Hark The Herald Angels’
Echoes From Main Street
Editor’s Note: The muse, evident in the poem that was last week’s “Where Nature Smiles” column, caused the poet (and our columnist) Catherine Lake Ellsworth, to reprise one of her favorites, from 1988. Next week, “Where Nature Smiles” – in verse or prose? – will return to the editorial pages of Hometown Oneonta and The Freeman’s Journal.
By CATHERINE LAKE ELLSWORTH • AllOTSEGO Columnist
With apologies to “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” we offer the
COOPERSTOWN CAROL FROM 1988…
Three hundred thousand tourists came
Just to see the Hall of Fame.
But they found no place to park
And nothing to do after dark.
As they walked upon the street
Litter fell beneath their feet.
•
Hordes of tourists this way come
To visit our town. It’s fun for some.
The now historic Higgins place
Is taking up more parking space.
As down the road it did roam
To find itself a brand new home.
Now it sits across the street
From part of the county seat.
•
Hordes of tourists this way come
To visit our town. It’s fun for some.
•
Trash may come, but trash won’t go
‘Cause there’s no landfill as you know.
Recycle, recycle is all that’s heard
Spoken as a magic word.
But will tourists recycle their junk
Or toss it out with quite a clunk?
•
Hordes of tourists this way come
To visit our town. It’s fun for some.
•
When you drive upon the street
You hope no other car to meet
Because with parking on both sides
You can have some scary rides.
Elk Street has now gotten relief
So should others is our belief.
•
Hordes of tourists this way come
To visit our town. It’s fun for some.
•
Next year “They’ll Love New York”
With activities of every sort.
Increasing numbers with great promotion
In the village will cause commotion.
Having more tourists here next year
Is the native’s greatest fear.
•
Hordes of tourists this way come
To visit our town. It’s fun for some.
•
Living here for peace and quiet
Finds the summer is more like a riot.
Fighting crowds throughout the town
Turns that smile into a frown.
Take advice from a friendly seer,
Get out of town before next year.
•
Hordes of tourists this way come
To visit our town. It’s fun for some.
PLEASE NOTE: Comments regarding this column may be made by mail to 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 607-547-8124 or by e-mail at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com. Or, for more thoughts about the comings and goings of Cooperstown, visit the website, cooperstowntoday.com.