A Visit to Philly

Yes, another Philly poem...

If you’re coming to my city,

some tips that you should know;

like, it’s fine to start a conversation

with a hale and hearty “Yo!”

 

When reading from a map,

it would probably be good

to know the right pronunciation

of names like Bala Cynwyd

 

If you’re heading out for breakfast,

it’s OK if you conform

to soft pretzels and hot coffee ~

this really is the norm

 

Head on over for a cheesesteak,

each neighborhood’s unique

just make sure that you’ve looked into

the ordering technique

 

To let them know at Geno’s

that your language is quite fit

you tell them very clearly

to give you “one wiz wit”

 

Philly is a quirky town,

a jewel of the East Coast

if you pay us a visit,

we will be a lively host 

 

Author's Note

Look into how to say Schuylkill and Conshohocken too! :)

Reviews

[richom]

Since I live in Pennsylvania near York, I've been to Philly many times and can attest to all you've said. It is quite frustrating at the moment because of the unexpected collapse of the Phillies (my favorite team).
I live near the Amish country and our accents are not quite the same as Philadelphians. I always thought I had no accent at all, until someone I met in Denver knew that I was from Pennsylvania after just a few sentences. Regrettably my aging stomach precludes any further enjoyment of cheeseteaks, but I well remember how delicious they were. And I do know how to pronounce Schuylkill and Conshohocken! A fun poem. Richard

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Rich! I too am quite disappointed with the Phillies, and am just looking toward next year with hope... Whenever we are out of the city, people peg us a Philadelphians right away. My niece is in school in Lancaster, and they do have different accents!

I stopped eating cheesesteaks when I went vegetarian 10 years ago, but I do still enjoy a pretzel and coffee for breakfast on occasion! :)

[ANTO]

I've loved a certain city in the USofA since I saw a certain movie...now what was it called...its on the tip of my tongue.....no...Syracruse.....no.....it wasn't that....hmmmmm - Im sure it'll come to me... ;)

This should be on the city's offical 'Welcome Visitors' brochures Rita (might be a handsome commission in it too)
X

[Rita L. Sev]

Ha! Maybe I'll send it in to the brochure committee... ;) Glad you liked this, Anto!

[ANTO]

Maybe I WILL ! - Don't be surprised -
X

[Baby Ricochet]

I love Philly. It's a great town

[Rita L. Sev]

I agree! Thanks!

[s y e]

Sounds awesome! I wanna travel so maybe I'll travel there some time, haha.

[Rita L. Sev]

You should - lots of history here! :)

[TL Boehm]

I could say Schuylkill and Conshohocken maybe, I think, but Cynwyd - nope. We have a couple of dutch lines on the way way back geneomobile in my dad's and my hub's family but those Welsh names? uh uh. They're like Hebrew. This child needs a vowel Mr Sajak.
Its a great poem (and I adore cheesesteak.)

[Rita L. Sev]

:) Thanks, Tammy. Years ago I taught a child whose last name was spelled Hrynczyczyn (I memorized the spelling). I pride myself in being good with pronunciations, but that one threw me! (by the way, it's pronounced "Bala Kin-wood") :)

[TL Boehm]

I was close Bala Kin wyd. But DAMN - Hrynczy what the? Do tribes sneeze to create their surnames? This must be why the Germans in my husbands family named all of their male offspring Johann.

[Rita L. Sev]

:) I think you're onto something with the sneeze theory - the name sounded like a sneeze, pronounced "Her-in-trish-an" (godzundheit!)

[Clockwork]

This one made me smile quite a bit. While I did not grow up in the city, all of my relatives, including my Dad, lived in or around the city. That has pretty much been the case since the family immigrated from Italy. So I found myself nodding at details such as "the right pronunciation/of names like Bala Cynwyd." The fifth stanza about Pat's was my favorite though. Great steaks, although I think Tony Luke's has really come on over that last decade. I was just thinking about Pat's the other day and the sign in their window. Ah, now I want a cheesesteak!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you! I agree that, if you are going for a sandwich, Tony Luke's is the place... though now that I'm vegetarian, it's broccoli rabe and provolone... :) Glad this made you smile, Christian!

[Clockwork]

Broccali rabe and provolone...yum :-) You're welcome.

[Jack...]

I was thinking maybe some scrapple for breakfast with maple syrup. Fortunately for me, I know how to pronounce all the city's and towns. But don't the locals call the Schuykill the Surekill expressway? Rita, you know there was no way I was going to miss this one. This was fun to read and makes me wish i were there. Cheesesteaks from Geno's. Nothing better except maybe your poem. Very nice my friend. Now just get the Phillies on track and we'll all be happy.

[Rita L. Sev]

:) I never got into scrapple, but I know a lot of people who like it with ketchup... :p Yes, it is wise to avoid the SureKill... And let's not talk about the Phillies... too depressing... :) Thanks, Jack!

[Angi]

I want to go for the cheesesteaks...oh, and the history, of course. Ha! Nicely done, Rita! Angi~

[Rita L. Sev]

You gotta try a soft pretzel with spicy mustard for breakfast! Thanks, Angi!

[Pryde Foltz]

Wow. You're a wit. I love it. Make sure you read request me any new ones.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Pryde! Will do...

[Cassie]

Wow! Thank you for letting me know about your city, Very funny and a lovely ready.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Cassie!