English: Grant County, WI, April 2001 — Rural Grant County was in deep water because of Mississippi River flooding that affected more than 2,000 homes in Wisconsin. Photo by Grant County Emergency Management (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The winter melted into Spring
Live leaves the water turned
On through Prairie du Chien
The river wildly churned
Lay down Ole Mississippi Old
Lay down you river aged!
Lay down Ole’ Mississippi Old
And cut this bloody rage!
Wild death was its soul concern
No thought for homeless folk
As the restless waves covered them
Covered them like a coffin cloak
Lay down Old Mississippi Old
Lay down you river aged
Lay down Old Mississippi Old
And cut this bloody rage
Like a raging fire it swept on
But the daring humans little cared
If they would only stand and pray
If they would do byt this, they would not scare
Lay down Old Mississippi Old
Lay down you river aged
Lay down Old Mississippi Old
And cut this bloody rage
Threatening river dangers
Moved on in bloody rage
For to it the people’s courage
Was as useless as the prairie sage
Lay down Old Mississippi Old
Lay down you river aged
Lay down Old Mississippi Old
And cut this bloody rage
At last the river surrendered
This frolic, pleasure chase
And lingered back to quiet tide
To end the fruitless race
Lay down Old Mississippi Old
Lay down you river aged
Lay down Old Mississippi Old
And cut this bloody rage
“Finally,” the people sang in joy,
“The waters have retreated!”
The victory won, they say…
But River thinks the folks defeated.
* * * * * *
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Footprints of Thoughts 