Many states have towns within them with interesting names. Alaska is no exception. The names of many Alaskan towns are musical sounding. This is sometimes a result of a name having many syllables with it. Look over a good map of Alaska and see how many towns you can find that have more than four syllables. In the Kuskokwim area you will find such villages as Tun-ta-li-ak and Chuk-wuk-to-li-ga-mut. Divide the names you find into syllables as the two above and they become easy to say in a musical rhythm pattern. Also, try making a list of musical sounding names from an Alaskan map, and write a poem using them as in the song below.
Oh, we live in Alaska, Alaska, U.S.A.,
And we are proud of this great state,
just listen while we say,
In Aniak, Amchitka, Anvik or Attu,
Bethel, Bettles, Barrow, just to name a few,
You’ll always find kind people being nice to you.
Oh, visit Candle, Chickaloon, Chugiak or Clear,
Or Copper Center, Dillingham, or Douglas you will hear
“Welcome to the great state, largest and the best,
come just for a visit, then stay like the rest;
You’ll find that in Alaska you’ll like living best.”
In Egegik, Galena, in Hagemeister, Hope,
or Hoonah, Happy, Igloo, Kaltag, Kiska, Tok,
Kobuk, Metlakatla, Near, Nenana, Nome,
Rampart, or Rat Island, you could find like home.
We’ll all live in Alaska never more to roam.
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