MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2000 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Browning
Senate Bill 2095
AN ACT TO DESIGNATE THE POEM ENTITLED, "MY MISSISSIPPI," AS THE STATE POEM OF MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following poem, entitled "My Mississippi" and written by Nancy Logan Cossey, is hereby designated the state poem of Mississippi:
My Mississippi
I live in Mississippi, the great Magnolia state
I live in Mississippi, because the state is great
It's southern fried chicken, and sweet potato pie
I live in Mississippi, Let me tell you why
It's full of lots of mystery and sleepy little towns
All day singings and dinner on the ground
It's azaleas in the springtime and pecans in the fall
It's Sunday morning church, good neighbors out on call
It's William Faulkner, Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Clowers and Marcel
It's a history lesson for John Grisham to tell
It's Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Charley Pride
Pickin' and a Grinnin' in good ole southern stride
It's the Choctaw Indians and Huckleberry Finn
Mighty steamboats comin' yonder round the bend
It's moonlight and magnolias, blackberries on the vine
It's watermelon under a shade tree in the lazy summertime
It's poke salad, turnip greens, purple hulls, and potatoes
Butterbeans, collars, onions, and fried green tomatoes
It's working in the garden, choppin' with a hoe
It's worth all the effort to make things grow
It's okra, cornbread, fat back, teacakes by the dozens
Grandma, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins
It's good ole home cookin' and front porch swings
It's coming to the table when the diner bell rings
It's shrimp, crappie, catfish, and bass
"Is this paradise?" a fisherman might ask
It's hunting deer, dove, turkey and quail
It's watching the coondogs catch em' by the tail
It's my Mississippi, the best state in the south
It's God's country, "shut my mouth"
It's crocked letters and humpbacks and it ends in an I
It's my Mississippi can you see why?
I love my Mississippi don't you see
I love my Mississippi it will always be
My Mississippi
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.