Sleepy Hollow Christmas

wrote this poem several years ago:


Changing Times

I drove to Tarrytown today
One hundred miles from where I now stay.
A relative I went there to retrieve
In order to share with us, our Christmas Eve.

The Tappan Zee Bridge lead to my old home
On the distant hill the Mary Mount Dome.
To the right the old gothic castle still looms
A symbol of hope a symbol of gloom.

We crossed the Hudson and onto Broadway
Passing familiar landmarks along the way.
Many things different but somehow the same
The red brick Church now had a Korean name.

The people were bustling as they always had done
A few less this year but all having fun.
The hardware and appliance stores were few
Replaced by trendy boutiques and restaurants new.

The old houses were resided and crowded together
This blue-collar town still handled the weather.
The streets were narrow and littered with cars
A town which once housed GM and so many bars.

Rockefeller once lived up on the hill
His house now opens for all to fill.
Down by the old car dealer we did travel
Past the Old Dutch Church I began to unravel.

So many emotions began to creep in
Of college days and drinking and sin.
Past the Van Tassels and school yard we did go
To Beekman avenue from Pocantico,
Now into the Town renamed Sleepy Hollow.

Everything seemed different but somehow the same
The people walking the streets had very strange names.
Where have all the Anglos gone my companion did ask
To Briarcliff, and Armonk I said with a laugh.

They all were White Protestant when we were young
Who are these strangers and what have they done.
Why have they overrun the town we loved so
They are the Latins from Cuba, Ecuador and Puerto Rico.

Think hard my friend it wasn't long ago
We walked these very streets and others wanted to know.
Who are these strange people with Italian names
Everything seems different but somehow the same.

Christopher Cole

author of

The Closer's Song