West Coast USA

Mount Hood a day`s trip
Frozen reaches in a cold grip
By the Timberline Lodge impressed
With pizza and cocoa hot refreshed


My mission, study on aids for teaching
Warehouses with equipment for borrowing
Portland Teachers helped in this way
Standards have improved they say


Mt Hood volcano now dormant
A capturing view at that moment
Tales of volcanic ash everything covering
Any time, bad times can hit, never forgetting


To San Francisco, one and half hours flight
The Pickwick Hotel for us just right
A stretched limousine at our disposal
For visits followed the chauffeur's proposals


Across the Golden Gate Bridge
Tall elegant Rosewood trees at the edge
The tree house spectacular
Botanical Gardens for all popular

Fisherman`s Wharf by tram car
China Town houses not too far
View of notorious Alcatraz across the bay
Fogless view we got that day


For film and TV industries just the place
Hollywood in bold letters on a hill face
Celebrity hand and foot prints on sidewalk
To Hollywood Boulevard people flock


At UCLA`s Department of Education
Discussed teacher instruction
Programmes for ethnic minorities
High on their priorities


‘I am your host for the day’
A man turned up to say
Showed us Los Angeles` sights
His Beverley Hills home showed wealthy might


To a Mexican restaurant taken
Tortas and Tequillas sure to awaken
Waiters in colourful aprons and mini sombreros
A flavour of rural Mexico

A visit to the legendary Disney Land
As though created by a magic wand
Fairy tale castle minarets arise
Walt Disney`s vision earns much praise


Street party parade drawing crowds
Dance music from speakers loud
People joining in to do the conga
Then breaking into the rumba


Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and friends waddle
On and off the floats they tumble
Pom-pom like girls dancing on steel drums
Loud music making the place hum


Paddle boat paddling along
Side paddle boat to Mark Twain`s time belong
A party going on aboard
Time for this they can afford


People relaxed and friendly
With much bonhomie
No cares for the morrow
Now is the time to wallow

Saw the best of America on display
Admired the American way
Attention to detail given
Work and play combined often

M.P. Prabhakar
1.6.2016
PJ