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!