Season's greetings, County Kin Let the merriment begin! Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas Is it local? That's our litmus. The arts and farms help define us So much driving, the only minus. True, this is a magic region It's rural life that we believe in Millbrook's South, Adams's North We're always driving back and forth Becket's East, Hudson's West Too much to do--we are so blessed! Our region's rich with artsy elves We couldn't list them all ourselves Nonetheless, we'll nix our doubts And offer up a few shout outs Hail Kevin Sprague and Tina Packer Julie Boyd, who is no slacker We wish a hearty ho,ho,ho To Hammertown's great Joan O To farmers who run CSAs We sow our fields with seeds of praise To all the merchants on Warren Street We send a hearty New Year's tweet Happy holidays Ella Baff And to Canyon Ranch's staff To theatregoers geriatric And Red Lion's N. Fitzpatrick To Joe Thompson, Megan Whilden And the folks who teach our children We offer up a loud hosannah To the mensch who runs Olana To curators savant at Bard A little something avant garde Hark James Taylor, Carol King We wonder what S. Claus will bring For Alan Chartock--what the hell? We pledge to give a jingle bell To Carrie Haddad and Tom Swope We offer up the gift of hope For Lauren Ambrose and Karen Allen SoCo ice cream by the gallon. To Bjorn Somlo who runs Nudel We wish both kit and caboodle Some bling for Shaker Ellen Spear? Oh, no, that really would be queer. Our praise to Rhinebeck's A.L. Stickle Where a nickel's still a nickel. We thank the gals at Paper Trail It's stationery's Holy Grail Hail Red Devon, the Red Dot And every other yummy spot Let twenty-ten be among the greats We'll toast with grapes from Little Gates To Jimmy Crisp, who is so swell And stonemason Mark Mendel Cheers Paul Rich and Frances Palmer To Kripalu, which makes us calmer For Susan Silver, something sterling Here comes the snow, the wind is swirling Skol! to dealers Edith Gilson, Tim Dunleavy and Ben Wilson We'd also like to pay respects To Morris Adjmi Architects Colin and Katrina Stair Such tasteful people everywhere! Here is to the Not for Profit Vision of one L. N. Moffatt To all the bookstores independent And Vicki Bonnington resplendent. Who make us smarter every day At least, they make us look that way. We'd be remiss to not make space For the gang at Guido's Marketplace. And lest we set off rude alarms To that at M (Group) and Turkana Farms. It also would seem more than mean, To fail to mention Bess Hochstein. Would we be reaching above our station To send regards to Maria Nation? If you'd like a mention in next year's poem, Just give a ring to our own Kate Cohen. Only kidding, to be fair, Everyone knows we live on air. Anticipating, as we should Our thoughts go straight to Tanglewood For now, we sit by fireplaces With not a thought of trading places Perhaps it is our common sense, Or just sound Rural Intelligence.
