The Parlor City

In the Southern Tier of New York;
The Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers flow through;
Lying nestled between the rolling hills;
Stands the Parlor City;
Where I was born, and as a child I grew;
Thick, white cloud formations;
Beautiful and foreboding;
Practically touching the tallest tower;
Painted on a bright blue sky;
Cobbled streets, and wrought iron railings;
Bridges over rushing water;
In the air, you can hear organ music;
As Hershell carousels spin lightly;
Children sit on wooden hand-carved horses;
In the Parlor City I call home;
The smell of cooking speidies;
Makes the mouth water;
As colorful balloons float overhead;
Artisans pitch their tents;
Selling their wares on the courthouse lawn;
College students walk in groups;
They are headed for the observatory;
To see if the stars smile back;
Traveling into another dimension;
You can feel the supernatural;
As his stories are read and acted upon;
Architectural wonders of man-made perfections;
Landmarks lovingly preserved;
For future generations;
The whistle blows at the station;
As the freight train rumbles through;
The Parlor City stumbles along;
Here golden era has passed;
Though her residents try to hold on;
To hometown pride;
In spite of an uncertain future;

Dear Readers.
This poem is about my hometown, Binghamton, NY. Here are some fun facts. The city was founded by William Bingham in 1792, but the land wasn't settled until around 1802. It was called "The Parlor City" during its most prosperous years, and is the cloudiest city east of the Rocky Mountains. It is a college town, and has always been a great place for anyone who loves the fine arts. The "Spiedie" sandwich is a local delicacy that consists of marinated cubes of meat, grilled, and served on Italian bread. Our most famous celebrity was writer/director, and "Twilight Zone" creator, Rod Serling. (He was born in Rochester, NY, but he spent his formative years here) Binghamton is known as the carousel capital of the world, with six operating vintage Hershell carousels in the area. The Kopernick Space Center is the largest public observatory in the Northeastern US.- Reference source: Wikipedia