Some years ago I suggested to my friend Jack
a poetry publisher that we do a series of travel books
in verse starting with New York City. I wanted to name
the series Don’t Miss This and in New York I would go
to 50 of my favorite places and just Describe Them.
Jack who is an unusually optimistic person gave me
a look like maybe this isn’t your best idea
but he was not dismissive. Still I didn’t write
a travel book in verse but it’s not too late because
today after 15 months (!!) because of this pandemic
we are finally going somewhere and it happens to be
Scranton, Pennsylvania. I only know three people
who’ve been there. One being my friend Edmund who
said yesterday: You Can Miss It. He suggested we try
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania instead but I’ve got
my heart set on Scranton and even if I never do write
a travel book in verse at least tomorrow I should be
able to tell you a Scranton sentence or two.
Almost everywhere has something beautiful, or something odd, or a statue of someone...guess we will wait to hear about Scranton.
The terrain around Scranton is dramatic; who knows how much coal remains underneath. Speed traps all the way up I-380, so take your time...