When the mighty Mississippi rolls
There's no way to tie her down
Devours acres leaves them bare
Again you'll never see them whole

Tempted her in '93
to swallow me in flood
I swam her waves and dared her so
To wash me down and fill my lungs

she swallowed corn and roads alike
Animals would not survive
but she let me swim as if it were calm
though other death pressed all around

merciful she was to me as i swam further and further away from shore fighting the current and fighting myself, knowning she was at her highest tide
I swam in the winter water that melted from Wisconsin,
I was friends with Huck Finn
Raftless, friendless she did not kill me
And I could scarcely hold her in.