Five Feet High and Rising

How high's the water, mama?
Two feet high and risin'
How high's the water, papa?
Two feet high and risin'

With all the rain that's fallen this week and the melted snow that ran across already drenched soil, the rivers are getting higher.  The Rock River in Janesville is over its banks in several spots and threatening to come up some more.

The same water that looked placid and peaceful suddenly becomes dangerous as it's power can sweep strong men off their feet, lift cars off roads, and homes off their foundations.

How high's the water, mama?
Four feet high and risin'
How high's the water, papa?
Four feet high and risin'

Much of the country has been in drought conditions for a year and the rain is a real blessing to the land and the people who depend on it.  (That would be all of us.)  Now, prayers are for the faucet to close just a little for the ground to absorb the moisture and pack some away for the soon to be planted seeds.

If you have the opportunity to safely survey these rising waters; check it out.  It's a great illustration of how a moderate amount of a good thing is great while too much can be impossible to use properly and turns into trouble.

Or, in another way to consider - would you rather drink from a water fountain (what we call a bubbler here in Wisconsin) or a fire hose?

Well, the rails are washed out north of town
We gotta head for higher ground
We can't come back till the water comes down,
Five feet high and risin'

Well, it's five feet high and risin' 

(Lyrics from Johnny Cash's song - Five Feet High and Risin')