by Patsy Collins Rodgers, a resident of Laurel and a member of Dixie Electric
Mississippi, you were there on the day of my birth,
the first arms to hold me my first day on earth.
You were there to witness the first breath that I took,
the first one to meet me and have the first look.
You taught me to laugh, cry, and to walk.
You were there to witness my first day of school,
to teach me God’s love and the Golden Rule.
Everything I learned, I learned from you.
From my first day in kindergarten,
and all the way through.
But sometimes young people have it all figured out.
They leave home to see what this world’s all about.
And so, my life took me over land and sea,
to cultures and languages new to me.
Oh, how I missed your sweet arms around me,
like the prodigal child, you were there waiting for me.
With tears blurring my vision as I glanced at the sky,
your flags waved at me wildly as I passed by.
Mississippi, you were there.
