by Matthew Harris

Thrice a coin did flip in the air
   methodology affixing this state
   located Latitude: 45° 31', North Longitude: 122° 39', West
heads and tails two early settles did blare
Asa Lovejoy and Francis W. Pettygrove respectively
   knew after two tosses of copper or silver piece
   name of newfound Pacific Northwest settlement
   would be a synonym for stout liquor crystal clear
said namesake t’would be epitomized
and accepted by former resident of Maine to win the bet fair
despite a brilliant columnar luminescent shaft
   which beam of sun created a near blinding glare
guaranteeing observant native creatures
   camouflaging in the verdant undergrowth shielding and attentive hare
despite sitting stock still just a hair breath near
   seemingly clasping paws in the guise of a prayer
synonymous with other natural phenomena
   like the indigenous fauna and flora never before seen and rare
to these newcomers settling along the confluence
   of the Willamette and Columbia rivers
whose present occupants now approaching the two hundredth year!