Niagara Gazette

LETTERS FROM THE ISLAND: Rhyming through the year 2012

By Doug and Polly Smith
Niagara Gazette

Niagara Gazette — As now we bid farewell to ‘12,

Into such sadness do we delve

A weeping nation wond’ring what

Caused horror in Connecticut

Had not yet even cleared the last

Of mis’ry wrought by Sandy’s blast

Farewell to our beloved “Bro,”

Showed thousands how to do a show

Cat Casey left midst many tears:

Our furry playmate, 18 years

Doctor, heading home from drinking,

Hit girl; said he’d not an inkling

Retribution widely prayed for;

He got justice that he paid for.

Much debating concerned whether

Tightrope guy would wear a tether

Safely trussed, did Nik Wallenda

Turn Falls into hacienda

The nation voted for Barack,

Though GOP said “that’s a crock.”

Paetreus touched off scandal storm

For conduct out of uniform

In skirmish with biographor,

He redefined “the fog of war.”

Sabres boosters feel depleted;

Solace: team is undefeated

As for Bills, we cry “no more”

While other teams roll up the score

Like Mayans, Mets see end of days

While Bisons hook up with the Jays

Viking baseball gathered glory,

Reached States; only part of story

In playoff game, coach defined pride;

Used substitute whose Dad just died

Girls basketball won Section VI,

And almost foiled Rochester’s tricks.

Isle events were much less tragic,

Mural appeared, as if by magic

‘though project was conceived in haste,

It demonstrated our great Taste

Tim Horton’s, goodness, now we’ve two!

And Riverstone resurfaced, too.

Thruway showed its disdain of us,

Shutting down our walk-in office

The Queen enjoyed her Jubilee;

But others won’t the New Year see.

Mrs. Pinkow, we’ll be missing;

Richard Dawson, king of kissing;

Andrew Breitbart, blogging writer;

Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheiter;

Andy Griffith, pope of rural;

Thom Kincade, sketched light in mural

Heav’nly hosts now taking dibs

On Dave Brubeck and “Beejay” Gibbs

While his aide awaits inferno,

Time ran out for Joe Paterno;

Nora Ephron, screenwriting star,

And natural causes claimed “J.R.”

Isle lost Jackie LaMancuso;

64 years since wedding trousseau

For four years husband did his best,

‘til she was granted better rest

Bob Beach, his “Liz,” now beside her;

Actor, joker, easy rider

As New Year comes we wonder if

We’ll totter over fiscal cliff

Can optimism be foreseen

For any year that ends “‘13”?

Where once we hailed an Arab spring,

What fiery fruits its plantings bring.

Best to follow Newtown’s lead,

Bow our heads, for mercy plead

The recent news has made us humbler,

And hope ‘13’s a better number.

So as this year closes its door,

We hope we’ll see you in 1-4.

And do not fear us two to bug,

Come visit, Polly and Doug