"The face of the water, in time, became a wonderful book,

A book that was a dead language to the uneducated passenger,

But which told its mind to me without reserve,

Delivering its most cherished secrets,

As clearly as if it uttered them with a voice.

And it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside,

For it had a new story to tell every day."

Mark Twain,

Life on the Mississippi

Mark Twain’s words have always inspired me

Since childhood, he’s sparked my wanderlust

So periodically, I just ramble about exploring

His wisdom is something I shall always trust

I always wonder what’s around the next bend

For something new in nature, I can’t wait to see

So this trip instead of north, we journeyed south

Along a wondrous river, The Mighty Mississippi

We soon traveled through the Mark Twain Wildlife Refuge

A vast haven for migratory birds, song birds, and water fowl

Over 45,000 acres scattered along 350 miles of the Mississippi

And a place so wondrous, it made the dogs and I want to howl

This wildlife refuge is located along The Great Mississippi Flyway

Every spring and fall, its skies are filled with the songs of migratory birds

And it is here, that over 500 bald eagles spend the entire year raising families

Watching them gliding and fishing in open water, is truly a sight beyond words

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed

By the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.”

Mark Twain

And very sadly, twenty years from now,

There will be far less wonders to behold;

So get out there, and enjoy Nature today,

While some of it is still alive, and vibrantly bold.

˙2008, Mr. Ed