STILL  A  MISSISSIPPI  DAY
(From Memphis to Biloxi Bay)

It's a Mississippi day
and a Mississippi dream
when kids come out to play
all splashing in a stream
grills are cookin parents sittin round
cracking jokes come from all over town
just average folks out for the holiday
from Memphis to Biloxi Bay

It's a Mississippi day
and a Mississippi dream
when the past has passed away
and the sun shares its gleam
all the colors of God's clay
are precious nothing to demean
oh let the sacred have its say
from Memphis to Biloxi Bay

A celebration in the park
from early light to early dark
four generations gather 'round
the happy shouts kids running 'cross the ground
these are people with deep roots
from before the Freedom War
celebrating the new day
and still a partly open door

It's still a Mississippi day
and still a Mississippi dream
when the past still has a say
the bias still mainstreamed
all the colors of God's clay
are precious righteous pure and clean
oh let the sacred have its way
from Memphis to Biloxi Bay

Now come the demons from the shade
on their devil wheels a hate parade
pretend rebels with no cause
with rifles hate rags and slack jaws
they roar in circles 'round and 'round the park
they curse the light  hide in the dark
shots fired by demons soul-impaired
terrified of love no courage there

You know it's still a Mississippi day
when the summer air feels unclean
and it feels like the past will always stay
and the apathy feels obscene
God help these Mississippi days
God help these Mississippi ways
oh let the sacred come to stay
from Memphis to Biloxi Bay

Half the preachers excuse the hate
the other half hold open the gates
to love respect equality and truth
from what's in our hearts to the voting booth
the past is Mississippi's shame
which the present can no longer blame
for the exclusion and fear that's still the same
and defaming and claiming His name in vain

It's still a Mississippi day
and still a Mississippi dream
when the past has its way
and the blood flows downstream
all the colors of God's clay
are precious nothing to demean
oh let the sacred have its day
from Memphis to Biloxi Bay
oh let the sacred have its way
from Memphis to Biloxi Bay


~ For Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, Sr., M.D.,
   Natalie Hamlar Mason, and
   Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, Jr., M.D. ~