The Butler Pennsylvania Poems

By Charles L. Cingolani

Cities have long been an object of poetic contemplation. This poetry about a small Western Pennsylvania town attempts to reawaken the past and infuse meaning and newness into happenings one takes for granted. It expresses awe at what is seemingly trivial, it slows down to express wonder at the commonplace. It does this with plain language that penetrates beneath the sensual surface of the events of everyday life for the hidden, mysterious component that reveals the beauty of lifes experience.

These poems are more than a nostalgic recounting of memories and occurrences. They have to do with the essence of reality and as such they are insights into the way people see things and the way they live in small towns across the nation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 28, 2010
• ISBN: 9781440189722

Charles L. Cingolani

The author was born in 1933 in Butler, Pennsylvania. He spent most of his life far away from his birthplace, taking up residence in Germany some thirty years ago. He has held teaching positions in the United States and Germany. He is married and has two children.

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Copyright © 2003, 2010 by Charles L. Cingolani

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ISBN: 978-1-4401-8971-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4401-8972-2 (ebk)

iUniverse rev. date: 12/18/2010

Contents

Preface

Setting Foot

Butler Aubade

Court House

Maple Tree

First Love

Winter Afternoon

The Spirit of Butler

McKean Street Dream

Normandy

Main Street Clock

Buried Treasure

Home of the Jeep

Learning to See

Room with Window Facing West

The Bombing of Butler

Man in Blue

Franklin Street

Penn Street Troth

On Returning

J.F.K.

Minnesinger

Main Street Parade

Apple Tree

Powers That Be

Sledding at Oak and Pearl

Out Along 422

Wartime, 1943

Mother’s Lesson

After a Bad Dream

Welcoming Party

For 20 Ohio Marines

Butler Woman

Lost Key

Local Happenings

Library

Butler Woman

After the War, 1945

On Chicora Road

Sunday School

High School Love

Roaming Son

It Is For Us the Living

Butler Face

Piano Recital

Butler Epitaph

Selling the House

Life Cycle

Calvary Cemetery

Burial Ground

Preface 

Why is it that thoughts about our hometown keep creeping back into our memory? Many people want to get away from the place as soon as possible. Especially if their town is small and offers only limited possibilities and resources. Many find their surroundings wearisome while others leave in the hope of finding a more pleasant climate elsewhere.

There