COLORADO -- THE CENTENNIAL STATE
by John T. Baker
"Oh, beautiful!" the poet  rhapsodized
Atop the peak that towers o'er the plains;
Long since her words were first immortalized
The mountains' massive majesty remains.

The fertile fields and meadows bloom and green,
The far-flung vistas reach beyond the eye;
The shining spires serenely crown the scene
Of brilliant blue against a cloudless sky.

The Indians who sang their reverence,
The pioneers who fought that they might stay,
The visitors,  the zestful residents,
They all have shaped the Colorado way.

A hallowed home, a haven set apart,
A happy blend of Nature and man's art.