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PRIME CLIME IN RHYME
There
are times when I wish I wore Venus' cestus—the didie of Aphrodite— and
could woo Euterpe or Calliope, those Camenaen daughters oŁ Jupiter and
Mnemosyne who dwelt on lofty Helicon. But alas! I never drank from the
Odroerer like the Icelandic Skalds; never made love to Gun-lad to savor of
Suttung's inspiring mead. Which is by way of confessing that I'm no poet.
Nevertheless,
I feel impelled occasionally to burst into rhyme. And why not? Does lack of
talent dissuade entertainers? For the answer obvious I refer you to any
handy radio, video set or movie screen.
So
the pseudo-poetic effort below is dedicated in all humility and full
recognition of its deficiencies to my Summertime county of Monmouth. More
odorous than ode, I'm afraid, but I mean well, folks.
Ode
to Monmouth County
Favored
fount of sea-borne treasure: land-locked lakes and
mighty wave,
Yours the privilege to give pleasure by the grace of Triton's stave.
Favored
too by Ceres' goodness, pastoral port of Pales' herds;
Fertile fields and emerald woodness, capering deer and lilting birds.
Fruitful
Faunus, dripping Pontius vie with Iris' huesome
bow;
Hercules for your enjoyment made the Cornucopia grow.
How
diverse your precious product: shrines historic, nation's
life,
Spring that freshened Henrik Hudson, site of Revolution's strife.
Summer
Mecca for the hallowed, presidents and greats galore,
Ancient, venerated landmarks that recall bright days of yore.
White-frothed
ocean, waving cornfields, citadel at Highland's
brow,
Scenic grandeur, man-made splendor, lush estates your fame endow.
Opulence
thy name is Monmouth; picturesque, palatial, fair,
Yet your heart beats with benevolence: scores are grateful for Allaire.
Hancock
guards your nothern waters, seascapes paint your
length around, Mantoloking and Metedeconk sentinel your southern bound.
Navesink,
the broad Shrewsbury, Manasquan, yon coiling
Shark
Lave your verdant, rolled interior; feed the festive pool and park.
Sunset,
Silver, long Sylvania, Takanosee, Wesley, Deal,
Other lakes like Shadow, Fletcher, Como add their eye appeal.
Sandy
Hook, ponds Whale, Wreck, Hurley carry on the
aqueous theme, Boating, fishing, crabbing, clamming popular in bay and
stream.
Pisces'
fleets roam all the waters, berthed at Belmar and
Brielle,
Taking toll of blue and tuna, some for sport and some to sell.
Guy
Lombardo and his Tempo set the speedboats' dashing
pace,
Monmouth Park and Freehold Raceway give the horsy set its place.
Yacht
clubs, golf clubs flourish gaily, tony surf clubs, night
clubs too;
Sea Bright, famed for title tennis; Long Branch, old lore meeting new.
Reigning
mistress of resortdom, cosmopolite Asbury Park,
Boasts convention hall and boardwalk, offers concerts, cultured lark.
Staid,
God-fearing Ocean Grove's there, haven from life's
hectic whir;
Tranquil, peaceful, calm, serene, sans bar, sans noise, sans Sabbath stir.
Spring
Lake's pride: its grand hotel queens; Red Bank dotes
on Molly Pitcher; Rumson, Deal and Little Silver: rarely found are towns
much richer.
Neptune
City, Bradley Beach and classic Avon-by-the-Sea,
Wanamassa, Interlaken, each boasts popularity.
Wayside,
Oakhurst, Elberon, Loch Arbour, Allenhurst, and
'Squan
All contribute to the weal your reputation's built upon.
Eatontown
is Army camp site, Navy depots compass Earle,
Guardsmen have the choice
location: Sea Girt, water-circled pearl.
Neighbor
Ocean near the border features Lakehurst's
hangars dualled; Lakewood,
Winter-missed as in the days of Rockefeller,
Gould.
Juvenile
fun-seekers find amusement parks are paradise,
All the way to gay Point Pleasant thrills are bought at modest
price.
Access?
Millions dwell close by, of your attractions well
aware;
Westerly your territory almost meets the Delaware.
Plane
and train, highway and parkway link you with
metropolies,
Transport minimizes distance: plant or office reached with ease.
Houses
building, new and swanky, show your future strong
and sound,
More and. more seasonal dwellers call you home the year around.
So
take a bow, all praise to you, you modern Fields Elysian,
Enchanting Circe lures us all, plebeian and patrician.
In
dulcet tones Nereids, Druades their magic Pandean spell
quoth,
Twice blessed the happy land that wins these nymphs of sea and dell both.
Along
your shore Palaemon rolls astride his dolphin
specious,
Dionysus in quest for peace meets joyous Dionysius.
'Twas
from your spume Cytherea rose up in all her glory, Poseidon,
Tethys, Nereus—all sea gods chant your story.
Anthedon
and his Derceto, your finny liege address you,
Priapus guards your fruits and flocks; Phoebus' choice beams caress you.
Our
thanks to you; when in your realm we're carefree as
Phaeacions,
Hyperboreans match not us in jubilant sensations.
Then
grow and prosper, province rare, your heritage so
glorious;
Your potions bring surcease from
care; hail Happiness Victorious!
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