This poem is dedicated to the salt of the Earth folks who populate the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, who have hosted me this week. They call themselves "Yoopers" and I'm proud I didnt take the easy "Super" rhyme anywhere in this thing! lol!
THE YOOP
Glaciers scrapped our Mother Earth
Putting wrinkles in Her face
As I look north out my window now
I see them every place
A storms blowing in off Lake Superior
Looks like a doozy, doncha know
Septembers starting to wind down
Just a few more days till snow
The next six months will seperate
The hearty from the weak
Cuz, weather wise, the old U. P.
has winters truly bleak
Two Hundred inches of white snow
We truly get snowed under
Perhaps we'll get my favorite thing
A big snow storm & thunder!
A blizzard, or the bitter cold
The Yoopers will keep going
And dreaming of that day in June
When the lawn again needs mowing
"Why the hell do you live up there?"
They ask from way out West
"Oh, its not so bad, doncha know?"
I say, zipping up my vest
The truth's the Fins and Swedes who came
carved out a place thats really something
A place like their ancestral home
Except with indoor plumbing
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Comments: 6
I travel probably 30 states, and this is one of the last unspoiled bastions in the US, in my experience. No big development, folks who care about each other. Its kinda "Mayberry-ish" and I mean that as high praise.
It was funny, the flight up here was delayed 4 hours. It was O Hare on Sunday nite, so it was a zoo. The Yoopers were easy to spot as they waited, they all stuck together, with their backs to the wall, and there wasn't a $ 5 mocha latte in the bunch. They didnt all storm to the counter to demand to know what was going on, they quietly "elected" one gent to be their spokesman, and he would go up and get the straight scoop and go back and convey that to the Yoopers, who would nod a few times and then go back to their books or knitting. Oh, and no one yapping on a cell phone nonestop. I was in heaven!
Your poem is great, Michael....Another home run....You captured the essence of this mysterious place with just a few well chosen words......And the last stanza classicly shows that it's all in the perception.
If you're still there, I'm jealous, but enjoy the changing season...and thanks for the most enjoyable post....