When drifts of deep snow

Melted into green carpets,

And clouds of blooms swept

Up Ohio River banks,

The blithe Delta Queen,

Aglow in bright dress,

Floated by every spring

With a song in her heart.

Filled with centuries of dreams,

The child playing ashore

Always waved to the lady

And hoped she would stop.

But driven by schedule

She glided on by

Without waking the town

From its afternoon nap.

Yet always she left

For the child of a Muse

A rainbow-wrapped gift

Of music and laughter.