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Song of San Francisco Hills

This is about San Francisco,1967 Oh, yes that city had its own song! It was a siren's call that sang; "Here, Panagiota, is where you do belong!" And my dearest poets, the sirens call was not wrong. It sang a song of cable cars jingling softly in the night. And angelic choirs of fog horns that lullabied me in tones, oh so, perfectly right. The sounds of tires on wet roads on pavements on a foggy eve. Whispers from a city that told me, that within its parameters,here, I would one day.... conceive! Each day an adventure as on a cable car I would ride. Overcome by the beauty of the Bay, the cable bell clanging it's louder morning song. "Come now, run, do not tarry!" Who rides to heaven to work as I feel I did? The bluest of skies,the thrill of a cable car. A teacher, going to work and as exuberant as any kid! The sounds of poultry in cages in Chinatown. Try ordering pastries in Mandarin! I loved its tones and the Chinese people. Those far Eastern luscious pastries, oh, I so delighted in. The children in Chinatown so bright and utterly respectful. I can still see them playing on the school rooftop. They had attitude in neon lights that forecast them being more than successful. I befriended many people from France. Well-mannered, loving a fun-filled people. They adopted me,gave me a French nickname and treated as their French counterpart and equal. Bastille Day,zowie, the food they made! I sat there in a two piece crocheted outfit, under a big tree in the shade. The Swedish bakery on Powell Street was right across from my hotel. I think it was an International Think tank, as well! When anyone started to down and insult or demean the USA, My German friend, Martha, told them to buy a ticket, go back to Europe and get out of the USA, and be on their way! No..my poet friends, it was nothing like the unbridled bashing of America on display, that we think is great fun today! The Greeks in San Francicso did not insult this country. They were far too into busy owning businesses, doing good and were not into trash talking. They saw to it that people were happy and cared for to the max. We always had awesome times together. We honored the USA and each other,no matter what the weather. The sounds of the hills still ring in my ears. And as I wrote this poem..I had to stop more than once. At beauty remembered,at love shared and good times lost. And the very first kiss from the forever love of my life. Under a lamplight on a divinely, foggy, San Francisco night! September 21, 2019

Copyright © | Year Posted 2019




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Date: 9/22/2019 5:20:00 PM
Quite a cavalcade of scenes and adventures, there! Especially loved the ending. Very nice! :) gw
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Panagiota Romios
Date: 9/22/2019 8:15:00 PM
Gershon, this was only a small part of my life there! Maybe other parts in future poems, who knows? I do Agrree 100 % on the ending with you. Thatnak you PR
Date: 9/22/2019 1:57:00 PM
Hi Panagiota, I know of your great love for this city, its people and your adventures - you make San Francisco sound unreal. I have never been to the USA but your poem reveals how alluring and inviting this wonderful city can be. Your are such a real human being that anywhere you stay will be your utopia. Hugs Panagiota mou, Jennifer xxx
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Panagiota Romios
Date: 9/22/2019 5:03:00 PM
Greeings! It's so odd.Jenny! I only live 100 miles from that once heavenly city. But I know what it has become! I would weep to death to see it now. You would have loved my gardenia days there. By the way, I do find utopian cities to live in. Maybe you are right? It's my own doing that makes it so. A significant comment , indeed,love and hugs.xx Jenniner mou Panagiota
Date: 9/22/2019 9:26:00 AM
You my dear friend have penned a masterpiece . This reveals the power and beauty of great and true poetry! Its imagery ,depths, insight and illustrative powers in verse shine bright as sunshine! A fav.. a gleaming jewel to see, feel and admire!~
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Panagiota Romios
Date: 9/22/2019 8:42:00 PM
Thank you for saying this is a masterpiece...a FAV, thank you. I hope to create more jewels. Life has given me much. It's the only way to say thank you to a universe and a God that has cared for me, Love, Panagioa.
Date: 9/22/2019 2:37:00 AM
Wow Panagiota your poem is truly a masterpiece and your passion and love for the city shines through each and every word! I LOVE IT! I can hear it - I can smell it - I can taste it - I am there! Thank you for sharing your passion with me. With kindest thoughts Ann xx
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Panagiota Romios
Date: 9/22/2019 9:20:00 PM
Ann..sorry I an late on responding. Do please forgive Me as I consider you one of the real poets @ Ps.I did my best to bring the sense of SF to you. I could write more about those holy and happy days, it is a passion for me. I have written a number of piems about SF and more to come! Love, Panagiota xx
Date: 9/22/2019 2:04:00 AM
It makes me wish I could have seen it, but I doubt I will. It's a blessing to care for a city so splendidly. I love your poem. It paints a wonderous picture of your city. Blessings to you
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Panagiota Romios
Date: 9/22/2019 9:29:00 PM
Greetings Regina. Each day I lived there, I had to pinch myself to realize I was actually there. Running near the Golden Gate Bridge with the sun coming up and the fog gliding like angels over the city, truly! A breathtaking experience I never got enough of. Sorry late on responding to you. Such a standby and loving woman you have been. Panagiota
Date: 9/21/2019 10:37:00 PM
Merhaba, A beautiful picture you painted Panagiota, I was lucky to visit that wonderful city years ago, sadly only had a couple of days before heading to Florida, could have done with a couple of weeks. Tom
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Panagiota Romios
Date: 9/22/2019 9:39:00 PM
Tom...if you return to Ca, you won't find me near SF as it a disaster. However, I do live in wine country. We make enough wine here to support 85% of the USA. I would weep if I saw SF now. It was pristine when I was there.The Central Vallety is lovely and near Tahoe. You have tremendous energy! Panagiota)))
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Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/22/2019 4:16:00 PM
If I get a chance to return we'll meet up and drink wine till the early hours lol
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Panagiota Romios
Date: 9/22/2019 1:26:00 PM
Merhaba! Awww..a couple of days. Too bad! You sure are a world traveler, Tom. Wonderful. Panagiota.xxxx
Date: 9/21/2019 10:32:00 PM
My gosh ~ I love this piece you have shared ~ so vivid ~ makes me sincerely wish I could have been to San Francisco in those times. There is so much I adore about this piece ~ a fave for me :)
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Panagiota Romios
Date: 9/22/2019 1:17:00 PM
Hi... Yes you would have loved it then.but~ that SFis gone. It was a wonderland for me! You can relive it through the poem. Or visit you tube and state SF, 1967, up to 1978'. No city like it. I mean pristine. I am sure Eurore had gorgeous cities too amd more impressive. Me? It will always be San Francicso....Panagiota. Thank youu
Date: 9/21/2019 7:18:00 PM
wow, what a splendidly written love poem to San Francisco. OH MY. this is just wonderful, Panagiota. I remember when I first saw it. It was (and remains) my favorite of ALL the US cities. We moved to Bay Area in 1986 and I spent four utterly divine years in Hayward, teaching aerobics, teaching ESL and doing lots of thrift shopping, seeing movies and occasionally going over to that charming city of San Franciso. If I were not afraid to go alone,I'd had taken BART and gone there more often.
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Panagiota Romios
Date: 9/22/2019 12:07:00 PM
Andrea, I remember you told me of your love for SF! Sounds like you had a great time in Hayward. BART was perfectly safe in those years. It's now filled with homess and no longer the sparkling beauty it once was. Owners of stores are bitten by drug addicts. You can see it online. It's a hellhole now and makes me sad, I taught on Angel Island, too. A Naval base in the Bay. Jane Fonda had an aerobics studio there. She was so teeny! Her classes were too pricey for me. I met Dick Van Dyke on Union Street. Silly, that I am , I did stop him and we had a chat. I saw Grace Slick at a gathering, wow, she was so quiet. I should write another poem about it. Panagiota, who still gets intoxicated by the GG Bridge. I bless every breath I lived there. Go Bay Area...Panagiota

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