I scan the paper and I'm smitten
by a headline: someone's written
"The happiest place to live in Britain
is here in Harrogate."

I sip my fresh brewed Yorkshire Tea,
gaze at the Stray where glorious trees
ripple sedately in the breeze
and I wonder "What's so great?"

Every town surely has beds filled with flowers,
a grand Turkish Bath with a dome and towers,
mineral springs and clean wind power
harvested on the horizon.

Two hundred acres of open space,
a theatre, a famous cycle race,
are these things not commonplace?
I find it quite surprising

that rudiments like local ales,
the Greenway escape route to the Dales
over the gorgeous gorge, fill the sails
of Harrogate's sons and daughters.

Once we were looked upon as fusty
but now it's official: we're fit and lusty.
It's not the teacakes - no...there must be
something in the waters!