I love the gently rolling hills of Ohio,

         The eastern hills all covered with forests of green,

         The vast flat northern pasturelands dotted with farms

Where cattle and sheep peacefully graze in the sun

I love the watery beauty of the northern shore

         With the excitement of ever changing Lake Erie

         Calmly serene in leisurely summer daylight

         Or stormy and wild during some long winter nights

I love the crops that help feed our hungry nation

         The fields of corn and wheat, tomatoes and pumpkins

         Peaches and pears, apples and cherries for cobblers

         Strawberries for shortcakes and berries on ice cream

I love the wildness of animal habitats

         Deer with their young and birds nesting in the treetops

         Wildflowers galore to tempt every visitor

         Winding roads and rivers and lakes for enjoyment

I love the fine arts of both cities and country

         Museums of art works and music hall concerts

         Operas and symphonies, dramas and comedy

         Festivals of quilting and downhome handiworks

I love this birthplace of presidents, inventors

         And astronauts, poets, authors and musicians

         This cradle of learning and universities

         Where people can dream and envision the future

I love the friendliness of Ohio’s people

         Their willingness to help out their neighbors and friends

         Their kindness and fairness, their natural friendship

         That natural resource that makes Ohio home

Ellen Kay