A Poem for My East Coast Clan

(I recently read this poem in one of our local weekly newspapers and immediately thought of my east coast family and friends.)

Santa Cruz Has Everything --But You

Here are mountains--wondrous mountains--
with a thousand tones of green;
Here are canyons--deep, dark gorges--
Lending myst'ry to the scene:
Here are crooked trains a-winding
Up and over through the view--
Santa Cruz has everything--
Everything, but you!

Here's the ocean--placid ocean--
With its emerald-tinted bay:

Here are breakers--mighty breakers--
Sending heavenward their spray;
Here is boating, here is fishing,
Here are abalones, too--
San Cruz has everything--
Everything, but you!

Here are flowers--gorgeous flowers--
Blooms that cheer us all year long;

Here are fruits from every climate,
In a land of smiles and song;
Here are big trees--giant redwoods--
Older than Assyria's Jew;
Santa Cruz has everything--
Everything but you!

Here the cold winds--icy winter--
Finds no place to lay its head;
Here the hot winds--sultry summer--
Leaves a cooling breeze instead:
Then comes longing--silent longing--
When the sky's a golden hue;
Seems like here there's everything--
Everything, but you!
--Frank R. Bretlinger