Lake Michigan, a giant freshwater sea, Stretches vast, a turquoise tapestry. Chicagoans, sun-starved, to beaches flee, Seeking cool refuge, a fleeting spree.

Mishigami, Great Water, the Ojibwa knew, Born when glaciers melted, skies turned blue. Indigenous tribes on fertile shores grew, Feasting on fish, their bounty ever new.

First, Havana Hopwell, leaving their trace, A life carved by the lake’s gentle embrace. Lake trout, perch, and bass fed each smiling face, A symphony of life, a natural space.

But long before memory’s written decree, Paleo-Indians walked the long, sandy spree. Who they were, only whispers on the breeze, But a mammoth fell, a testament to their deeds, you see.

In Kenosha’s halls, the proof stands so bold, Igniting the flame of stories untold. Camps and tribes flourished, stories unfold, Before Columbus, before Europe’s gold.

Imagine lodges, bark-roofed and strong, Trails through tall grass where elk bugle their song. Campfires crackling, casting shadows long, Roasting mammoth meat, sung by coyote’s lonesome throng.

An open shore, teeming with life so free, Mallard, fox, and raccoon, a vibrant decree. Long before Marquette, Joliet, Illiniwek decree, A sacred space, where purpose ran wild and free.

Now cities rise, a necklace of shining light, From Chicago north, a dazzling sight. Windsurfers dance, kayaks brave the white, Jet skis carve trails, a modern delight. Yachts glide by, carrying treasures afar, A contrast stark, beneath the same guiding star.

Lake Michigan, a giant freshwater sea, Stretches vast, a turquoise tapestry. Echoes of time whisper eternally, A timeless beauty, for all to see.

First Published as Inland Sea on May 26, 2013 Copyright Cliff Potts 2013, 2025