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My Ode To the Netherlands: Friesland

Friesland Some things about a lovely region I have learned today. First of all, to call their language Dutch you must not say! And don’t say it’s a dialect, for they won’t like that much. Their Frisian language is as favored as the language Dutch. Six hundred thousand souls or so are living there - that’s all! And of that number, many live right in the capital. The Frisian cities all are joined by a waterway! Eleven cities only - where the people work and play. And do they ever play! They sky dive, skate, and sail. At one sport, far-jumping over ditches, they excel! They’re known for dairy products, so it comes as no surprise - in the U.S. state Wisconsin, a town named Friesland lies! The flag of Friesland is distinctive, but if one believes it has hearts on it, they’re wrong! Those red hearts are leaves. The leaves are those of water lilies, and they number seven, for the regions of the coast, a land that is like heaven. Heaven, yes, for with its woodlands, lakes and island city, Nature sure has smiled on Friesland, green and pretty. Written February 16. 2014 Sorry about the population I had first cited in second couplet. I must have misread the information on its population and have now tried to adjust the poem to more closely reflect the true population

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014




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Date: 5/14/2014 10:42:00 PM
Nice work and a little piece of history along with this poem. Awesome. love phyl
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Date: 4/30/2014 1:59:00 PM
Great winning work..Congrats..Sara
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Date: 4/29/2014 6:41:00 PM
Awesome Ode Andrea.... XOX~ PD
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Date: 4/29/2014 4:29:00 AM
Beautiful poem , justice done to the charming place wid the words ! Congrats on win Andrea !
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Date: 4/28/2014 8:36:00 PM
Yep, I knew this would HAVE to make the winner's list; not only because you took the time to do research but that it is so effectively done too. LOVE the way you broke from 'perfect rhyme' in verse five to use 'near or sounds like'...I'm sure you already know this but Emily Dickenson was the master of this. Congrats my friend! - Tim
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Date: 4/28/2014 4:15:00 PM
Very informative write Andrea; you stand a good chance of getting a paid job there as a guide while also on holiday (business and pleasure)....Elly could put in a word for you:) // congrats. // paul
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Date: 3/8/2014 9:36:00 AM
A lovely write Andrea...winning wishes
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Date: 3/1/2014 6:02:00 PM
Well done Andrea, you must have caught up on the knowledge very quickly you are certainly spot on regarding the language...don't ever call it Dutch. Good luck in the competition
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Date: 2/28/2014 9:06:00 AM
Friesland sounds great. I'll bet they make good cheese. I will also bet that it is colder than all get out up there. LOve, daver
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Date: 2/23/2014 9:11:00 PM
Stimulating poem! I am wondering if this place is a country or part of a country? Are they in the U.N.? Just sold an article about the U.N. to Barrs Postcard News which I write for on a regular basis. I am something of a deltiologist(student of postcard art). I will look around for your chapbokk Peace & Love Matthew Anish
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Date: 2/22/2014 5:40:00 PM
What a great and informative couplet. I'm so unversed. Must be so neat to see and so beautiful. I'm really not that well bible versed just repetition of hearing. But on-line bibles(KJV) can find any reference. It is mostly God inspired. He's the Power and the Glory! From ideas to words, so many words. Take care!
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Date: 2/21/2014 2:21:00 PM
Lovely little book report with a splash of rhyme. Always nice to learn something when we take the time. To read a poem of someone's home so far away from ours. Being Dutch I wonder much as to just what kind of flowers. Peace. :)
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Date: 2/21/2014 7:14:00 AM
Great entry, so descriptive. Sounds like a wonderful place to visit.
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Date: 2/20/2014 5:15:00 AM
Way to go with this contest entry..Reads like a winner to me..Enjoyed learning something new and maybe I will look it up as well..Thanks for the visit to my page..Sara
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Date: 2/19/2014 10:28:00 AM
Very descriptive wonderful poem. The lovely people are surely happy in that Friesland. Loved your nice poem, my friend. Loved always, bl
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Date: 2/19/2014 8:37:00 AM
Thanks for the education. This should do well.
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Date: 2/19/2014 7:13:00 AM
The English go to Amsterdam and tend to take the guided tour . Not something you should do if it is real beauty you seek . The Tulip fields , The walks , The bike rides , The canals , The bridges , They are all really pretty but the beauty lies in the people. Brilliant as usual Andrea
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Date: 2/19/2014 5:37:00 AM
This is super Andrea. Thanks for your comment on Juliet it was written to a poet on another site who helped me a few years ago.
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Date: 2/19/2014 2:45:00 AM
Perfectly done my friend...I am Dutch and to my shame. I haven't been able to come up with anything yet! Workin on it though...Did you get my song that I sent? - Tim
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Date: 2/19/2014 2:38:00 AM
Andrea an unusual theme you also used half and slant rhymes, like the waterway it flows but I bet it was not that easy to do, if for a contest good luck....David
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Date: 2/18/2014 7:16:00 PM
I believe this is just what Elly wants for her contest. It is very descriptive with good rhyming. You have included a lot of facts about the area.
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Date: 2/18/2014 3:15:00 PM
Nice poem - I don't drink milk anymore - I stick to soy milk. I love cheese and used to get the Wisconsin cheese catalogue in the mail. I hope you and yours are O.K. and that you can give me some feedback on my latest poem. Peace & Love Matthew Anish
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Date: 2/18/2014 12:04:00 PM
Simply lovely tribute write Andrea..
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Date: 2/18/2014 11:02:00 AM
Andrea...sounds lovely. They are a happy people.
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Date: 2/18/2014 10:34:00 AM
A useful and pleasant lesson for us...couched in enjoyable language.
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Book: Reflection on the Important Things