Where Mighty Rivers Flow

I live in a land where mighty rivers flow.
Listen carefully as I say their names ~
Consist of splendid words you may like to know.
Most begin high in the North Cascade Range.

They're called the Nooksack(nook~sac), Samish(sam~ish),
Skykomish(sky~co~mish), Snohomish(snow~ho~mish), and Stillaguamish(still~a~guam~ish).
Then of course there's the Snoqualimie(snow~qua~limie).
O' but, the magnificent Skagit(ska~git) runs past me!

She joins upstream forming her own system.
Which includes the Sauk, Suiattle, and Cascade.
Merging together binding mountains to the sea,
Emerald ribbons showing off their majesty.

Winding down steep slopes always restless.
Through forested hillsides and wide valleys.
She rises and falls past rugged wilderness,
Farmlands, cities and rural communitites.

Ebb and flow of her moving waters influences lives.
Revealed in wildlife; deer, black bear, mountain goat,
Grizzlies, grey wolves, bald eagles and bull trout.
Farmlands rich with fertile soil, and countless fisheries.

What marvelous treasures our forefathers must have found
Amongst the rivers and tributaries above Puget Sound!
The mighty Skagit River System is still called home
To four Native American Indian Tribes described in this poem.

Listen closely as I say their names~

The Upper Skagit(ska~git),
Sauk(sock)-Suiattle(sue~at~til),
Samish(sam~ish),
and Swinomish(swi~no~`mish).

word count- 190