Thanks to John R.
Ed note: There are several poems about the weird names in our state. Here’s one.
“Washington Names — The Definitive (and Slightly Silly) Version”
There’s a place called Humptulips,
And Hoquiam by the sea,
And a valley called Hamma Hamma
Where a maiden’s heart went “hama hama”
When her young man bent the knee.
He took her up to Spokane—
Or so the story ran,
But after all the talking done,
It turned out well, “Spoke Anne.”
They honeymooned in Puyallup,
Or tried their best to go,
But every time they said the name
The locals answered, “No…”
They hurried on to Sequim next
(Pronounced “skwim,” not “seem”),
And wondered why those extra vowels
Were in that tricky scheme.
Then down through Steilacoom they drove,
And onward without pause,
To Wenatchee’s sunny hills
And Okanogan’s draws.
You may boast of Massachusetts,
Or Mississippi’s flow,
But Washington has names that twist
Your tongue at every go.
You can study them and practice,
You can say them loud and slow,
But unless you’re born a native,
They’ll betray you when you go.
So when you visit Washington,
And try to speak them true,
Remember Hamma Hamma—
And they’ll smile and welcome you.