Mystery poet emerges

For the last several years I worked at the Daily News, I would occasionally receive poems and jokes lampooning Philly politics. At first I didn’t know the author. She soon revealed herself, but asked me not to put her name on her work when I published it because she wasn’t sure her firm would take it so well.

She’s now on her own, and I’m happy to credit Sharon Suleta with this ode to the year gone by:

 

A PHILLY YEAR: 2010

As two thousand ten slips from our grasp

Let’s pause and look back at the twelve months just passed

From January to December

These are some things we’ll likely remember

The snow was high, the economy low

The GOP dealt the Dems quite a blow

Longtimers Spector and Perzel defeated

One termers Sestak and Lentz unseated

In a Fitzpatrick rematch, Pat Murphy fell

But before leaving killed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”

We laughed at O’Donnell’s “I’m not a witch” motto

And thanks to campaign ads can spell Onorato

Rotwitt was caught on both sides of a deal

“But I knew nothing” claims Justice Castille

Tartaglione’s ethics called into doubt

(Don’t tell Mom Marge, ’cause she’ll punch you out)

DRPA kids scored free-z-passes

But no such relief for the toll paying masses

Come ons and parties and pay to play

Standard procedure at PHA!

Lawsuits and settlements until now unknown

(Couldn’t Greene just once get a date on his own?)

The Spectrum came down, we’ll see it no more

SugarHouse finally opened its doors

Spurned by Wynn, its license gone too

Here’s one sure bet: Foxwoods will sue

The boy scouts will keep their digs for a pittance

But if you’re gay don’t bother seeking admittance

Michael Vick, his talent refound

Now wants a new dog to throw around

The Phils’ summer sizzle didn’t last through the fall

But Doc’s perfect pitching still left us in awe

Now Cliff Lee’s signing has us celebrating

All thanks to a Yankees fan’s expectorating

On the Delaware, tragedy struck

When two tourists died while riding the ducks

Pendergrass, Brookshier and Wee Will’s dying

Reminds us how quickly the time is flying

The year marks the end of the reign of Rendell

Though he thinks we’re wusses, we bid him farewell

Now it’s 2011 and as we start again

I wish a happy new year to all of my friends