Missouri (The 24th State, 1821)

Forgive me if I’m in a hurry

to tell you all about Missouri!

It started as a trading post

perched along a river coast;

and then it hosted pioneers

on their way to wild frontiers—

that last is how we know it best—

our longtime Gateway to the West!

The world’s fair was a grand venue

where fast food made a great debut:

since then, the burger and the cone

have both become most widely known.

Its gifts to us have been quite plain—

fine souls like Truman and Mark Twain,

and then that sage of any era:

I speak of course of Yogi Berra,

and if you love a song and dancin’

then take yourself away to Branson!

Arkansas (The 25th State, 1836)

We learned in school that Arkansas

is pronounced to sound like jaw,  

and why it doesn’t rhyme with Kansas?

I would need a lot of stanzas!

It is the home of those grand Nine,

teen aged heroes who chose to shine,

who put to shame a hateful rule

by choosing where they went to school.

For visits it has all you’d wish:

trails to hike and lakes to fish;

agreed, there are no ocean waves,

but lots and lots of lovely caves;

and Mountain Home will warm your heart

with its array of great folk art.

Can any place be called divine—

whose chosen mascot is porcine?

But this state we shall not bash:

for it gave us Johnny Cash!