In 2017 I was sojourning in Ambleside. The American style B & B was named Compston House. I happened to be in the Pennsylvanian Suite which was well facilitated and included sufficient reading material — including information about Pennsylvania. From these facts and figures I extracted the following rhyming verse. (The second and third in the trio are ‘Wrynose Pass’ and ‘Cumbria’ respectfully).
Pennsylvania
(The Keystone State)
With a population @ 12, 000, 000
And total area over 46k square miles
Pennsylvania is really quite large
With many couples walking down the aisles
Its chief industries are all interesting
Biotechnology and advanced manufacturing
Agribusiness and travel & tourism
Health care and printing & publishing
Corn is one of Pennsylvania’s chief crops
As also is hay and mushrooms as it goes
What has to be more important than these
Are winter wheat, apples and potatoes
A state motto is always a good thing to have
Stirring courage and feelings of belongingness
You may have one, or know one, or able to quote one
Pennsylvania’s is: “Virtue, Liberty and Independence”
Pennsylvania’s state flower is the Mountain Laurel
Research their medicinal information
And its state bird is the Ruffed Grouse
Also known as the Prairie Chicken
There are famous Pennsylvanians too
Including Perry Como and Grace Kelly
And Andy Wharhol and Grace Kelly
Benjamin Franklin and Jimmy Stewart
Michael Bobb
August 2017 and 2019