Where to Live in BC-Original Composition

Too big, too cramped,
Too dark, too damp.
The Big City's not for me,
For here, I cannot be free.
Where to live in BC?

Resort towns are very nice,
But come at a substantial price.
The North is aged, like a good wine,
But can be less than divine.
Where to live in BC?

The Fraser Valley is growing,
A river, there, flowing.
The Okanagan mountains are tempting,
But my brain cells are still wrestling.
Where to live in BC?

The Cariboo, like an atlas,  is full of history,
It could be quite a mystery.
Vancouver Island, maybe?
It has plenty of trees.
Where to live in BC?

The South Desert is like a habanero pepper; hot, hot, hot,
And a house there would not cost a lot.
The Kootenays have frigid winters,
Which will make me whimper.
Where to live in BC?

Through this poem I have found;
That there is no common ground.
And instead of continuing on,
I'll try the land of the living skies: Saskatchewan!


This original poem, titled, "Where to Live in BC," is my own work.  On the surface, the primary intention of this poem seems to be me as the author using my knowledge about the different regions of British Columbia to help others (potential buyers) make a decision on where to live in our great province.  Obviously, every region has pros and cons, and after naming enough of British Columbia's various regions, the reader (a potential homebuyer) should have absolutely no idea which region to choose.  So, my hidden goal as the author of this poem is to sufficiently overwhelm the reader to a point where he or she has to make a choice:  To continue to blow his or her brains out, or to walk away from BC and research an entirely different province.  In the case of my poem, the speaker make the wise decision; to walk away and try Saskatchewan instead of blowing his or her brains out trying to find the absolute perfect region in British Columbia.

"Where to Live in BC" follows the rhyme scheme AABB, with the exception of the first verse, which follows AABBB.  The reasoning behind this decision was to engage the reader on a higher level, as I find (and am sure others have as well) that longer poems that do not rhyme can often be highly disengaging.  As a result, any assignments and tasks related to these poems that may be handed out by your teachers will be more mundane and seem like more of a chore than if the poem has a rhyme scheme.   Perhaps this is personal preference, however, I encourage you, as readers of this blog, to find a long poem without a rhyme scheme, and read it.  Then, re-read my poem, and make a decision about which one is more interesting. Comment on what you think.  Enjoy "Where to Live in BC."