Wisner reflects on life dedicated to the Bay

ST. MARY'S CITY, MD – (AP) Tom Wisner's voice is gently commanding. Subtly passionate. Strong and deep.

He no longer performs for large crowds, just occasional visitors eager to learn what they can from the 78-year-old folk-singing environmentalist before the tumor in his lungs claims his life.

For decades, Wisner has been known as the Bard of the Chesapeake Bay: a folk singer, artist, poet, historian and educator whose music celebrates the rivers and bay. The Smithsonian Institution has recorded Wisner's work. To many ears, his voice is that of the bay itself.

Now, ailing and alone in his rented farmhouse in Southern Maryland, Wisner finds himself reflecting on the consequences of dedicating his life to the bay: the collapse of his marriage, distance from his children, near poverty.

To honor Wisner's work, lawmakers recently proposed that one of his songs be designated the state's first official children's song.

But the House version of the song bill died in committee.