A Tribute to a Queen

She begins her 2,000 mile, 10 state journey in Minnesota. When the sun starts to rise, casting its reflection on her, she becomes busy with traffic. Oil tanks transporting oil; tugboats and steamboats hauling supplies; riverboats for tourist; and casinos for gamblers come alive and adorn her. Many bridges built over her become congested and give a view of her, up and down, as far as the eye can see.

She curves and she turns, changing her course where ever she pleases. Levees and dams are built to control her, an attempt by man to prevent her from flooding their land. But she flows on, her swift water and strong currents a reminder of who she is. She is not alone, thought. She is watched by speculators all ages and cultures. On top of the levees, they sit on benches to watch her flow and see the ships pass. Other, they enjoy walking, running, or biking along her path. Even dogs like to pass the time on the grassy bottom of the levees, where families picnic.

In the early Spring, after a heavy thunderstorm, she floods. Her floodwaters are a welomed sight to people and dogs alike. People fish, dogs play and swim to beat the heat. However, when her flood waters recede, she reminds us she is still present. The mud and sediment she leaves behind is bitter and reek.

She is famous! Children read about her in Twain's famous book. She is sung about in songs by Johnny Cash and Charely Pride. Native Americans settled near her in the early days. The Civil War used her for strategic reasons. She even has an ice cream in her name!

The sun begins to set, the tugboats and steamboats stop for the night along the edges of her waters. As night comes, everything becomes calm. But she keeps going. Flowing swiftly until at last she comes to a rest at the Gulf of Mexico. And when the sun rises again, she will be there, just like she has been for thousands of years.

No one underestimates her, some may fear her. She is called Mighty, Great, or Big. In her own way, she is all three.


She is the Mississippi River.