Bill would designate state poem

Posted at 11:28 AM on February 13, 2013 by Tim Pugmire (7 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature

Legislation introduced today in the Minnesota Senate would designate an official state poem.

Sen. Bruce Anderson, R-Buffalo Township, is proposing the honor for "Minnesota Blue," which was written by Keith Haugen in 1985 as a tribute to the state. In addition to the designation, Anderson's bill would require that a copy of the poem be placed in the Office of the Secretary of State.

Here's the poem:

MINNESOTA BLUE

Minnesota, how I love you
Minnesota, I've been away too long
How I miss your clean fresh air, your lakes and rivers too
How I miss your Minnesota Blue

Do your golden fields of wheat and corn
Still shimmer in the early morn
Waving to the clouds as they drift by
Do moose and bear still rule the earth
In the Red River Valley of my birth
Do the Northern Lights still dance across your sky
Does the North Star still guide you
Do your farmers still provide you
With the way of life that we all learned to share
Do they still follow the Golden Rule
And dress up each week for Sunday School
Do your families still give thanks for living there

Are your skies still free of smoke and haze
Do your old folks still remember days
When your skyline was a grove of Norway pines
Does the North Wind whistle through your trees
Can you still smell wildflowers on the breeze
Do bass and pike still play with fishing lines
Do your children still walk the rails
Or discover hidden Indian trails
Do canoes glide through Minnesota streams
Can you hear the cry of the lonely loon
Do wolves still howl at your full moon
Is Viking Land still Mother Nature's dream

Do you still have dairies and rolling hills
And mines and quarries and flour mills
Do you still brew the best of America's beers
Do bobcats still cry at night
Does snow still fall so soft and white
Do icicles hang like crystal chandeliers
So many of yours have left to roam
But they still call Minnesota home
Like geese that fly above your lakes and wilds
And for every one of your million stars
There's a prairie son who's traveled far
Oh, please remember this Minnesota child.

Minnesota, how I love you
Minnesota, I've been away too long
How I miss your clean fresh air, 10,000 lakes and you

How I miss my Minnesota Blue
Oh, how I miss my Minnesota Blue

Copyright 1985, Keith Haugen

Comments (7)

I think we need to work on improving our flag, seal, and anthem, before we start thinking about a poem.

Posted by gml4 | February 13, 2013 1:16 PM

I don't like this archaic portrait of a very modern and cutting edge environment we have in our glorious state. Just think about how our twin cities are ever changing. We have some brand new stadiums to hold up high and some state-of-the-art transportation to look forward to in the next few years. We have very modern museums and theatres present here and a music scene that rivals any in the modern world. Also we have the best medicine clinics and hospitals in America! All of this is very modern and cutting edge! I think that a state poem ought to shine a light on these 'modern' qualities rather than an antiquated vision of our glorious state.

Posted by Brian Wene | February 13, 2013 1:22 PM

I think we should consider the artistic merit of a state poem. If the poem is relatively 'artless' then it is a poor representation of the state. MN is a wonderment of the arts, in our theatre, our museums, our film festivals, and the many authors we've born. If our state poem is poorly crafted it may negate the illustrious art reputation we have in the nation. Perhaps we could select several poems as candidates and then call for public comment or votes. 'Minnesota Blue' is probably not the best example of our state's artistic acumen.

Posted by suestuben | February 13, 2013 2:34 PM

Gosh, wasn't it just last week that the MN-GOP was complaining about how legislative time was being spent ... for example, Senator Warren Limmer (the Republican from Maple Grove) said :"Why is the agenda focused on guns and it's not on the budget in the state of Minnesota, because that's the long range issue that's going to affect every Minnesotan for many years to come."

And this breaking news is being matched by Erik Paulsen who introduced HR. 627 which will authorize the minting of a series of commemorative coins (a five dollar gold coin, a silver dollar, and a clad half dollar) to recognize the National Park Service.

Wake me when they start working on real stuff.

Posted by Mac Hall | February 13, 2013 4:21 PM

This legislation is a complete waste of time. Are you kidding me Senator Anderson? Balance the budget, stop the ridiculous tax increases, then retire back to your couch and watch another episode of Green Acres.

Posted by Jim | February 14, 2013 12:08 AM

This poem's not bad as this sort of thing goes--alma maters and the like--though it is rather pedestrian and sentimental. If we're going to have a state poem, we ought to invite our current and former poet laureates to write one--especially Robert Bly, who just yesterday was honored with the Frost Award.

Posted by Orval Lund | February 14, 2013 11:28 AM

I've met the author of this poem in Hawaii where he performed in Honolulu. He has written and performed more songs than, perhaps, any other person living in Hawaii. I suspect that he plays "Minnesota Blue" on his ukelele each night, providing Minnesotan travelers with a piece of home. I disagree that Minnesota is now too sophisticated for such a simple poem. At its heart our state is still the wild, natural place the song portrays and, I believe, intends to preserve. Perhaps someone gone from the state has the best perspective.

Posted by Landis Lundquist | February 15, 2013 2:01 PM

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