Long Tulsa Poems

Oklahoma cowboy, tough coal miner’s son
Born in Henryetta, south of Tulsa some
Raised by daddy’s momma, taught him wrong from right
Daddy taught him ropin’, taught him how to fight
 
Herding made no money, its stock was...

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“the last of the funerals”

today “the last of the funerals”
takes place &
the killings in CT get placed on the
shelf,
alongside the deaths at Columbine,
Virginia Tech...

those were the “big ones” right?

well, now, Aurora was a “big one,”...

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You died for our equal treatment, and we demand "affirmative action."

You died for integration, and we justify segregation when we throw public brawls and destroy property.

You died to stop the Klan and the supremacists from...

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He awoke to the sound of the women working to prepare breakfast.He was so hungry he felt nausea welling up.Do you think I could have some more of that broth he asked.Not only was he...

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(Apropos Of Juneteenth Celebration)

This is the day the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and celebrate
Because we’re still here…marching on
With our eyes stayed on the prize.
Let us rejoice and celebrate
Because we’re aware that we are not
The...

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(Apropos Of Juneteenth Celebration)

This is the day the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and celebrate
Because we’re still here…marching on
With our eyes stayed on the prize.
Let us rejoice and celebrate
Because we’re aware that we are not
The...

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City Skin

    A city can be so close, 
    enclosing, 
    familiar, 
    that it leaches into one’s soul,
    becomes...

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The bike was loaded and packed
The duffle bag strapped to the rack
The air was crisp when we started out at dawn
In the early morning hours we were gone 
Down the road with the wind on...

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Dreamers Dream
                          by Odin Roark

Tulsa’s hard times made the decision...

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Still Counting Past Blessings!

I’m Seventy-Seven and happy to live in the State that I’m in!
As a child, Oklahoma near blew us away! The ‘Dust Bowl’ killed some too,
and a passing tornado, some thought mite too...

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I'll be gone this time tomorrow
I’ll catch a freight at dawn.
One goes east, another goes west
An' I don't care which way

Came to Texas out of Tulsa
Lookin' for a future -
Got a lot of knots on...

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I Won't Be Back Again

I'll be gone this time tomorrow
I’ll catch a freight at dawn.
One goes east, another goes west
Don't matter which I'm on.

Came to Texas out of Tulsa
Lookin' for a future -
Got a lot...

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Loyalty, Small and hard
I took it like buck shot
lodged in my heart

He left you for O.K. Tulsa I believe
You said he didn't know you that well
he didn't know you have smoked weed

But he knew you...

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A Palindrome Tale

I’ve got a tale to tell you of travel, love and lust
The travel, it was joyful, my love life was a bust
I met a girl in Tulsa, next day my diary read
A slut...

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Some recalled Kristallnacht,
the white mob’s facial fever,
once the same fever of a night,
now the fever of a day-mare.

Some recalled Charlottesville,
the white mob’s lust for blood,
once the same blood craved,
now the blood of a purgatory.

Some recalled...

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Come on girl, let's Cruise the scene...
The Tulsa Street Scene, You know what  I mean !

Cruisin' in my Hot Rod, Gotta drive a Hot Rod...to be cool, 
and make the scene

I got a cherry...

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The story of a harrowing tragedy,
A race carnage of terror and atrocity.
A district that teemed with pride and achievement,
But a place of hatred for white supremacists.

With the terror and fear of those dark days,
The lives...

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A nick on a lamppost,
a curtain tears.
Crushed pieces of glass,
are what this lane of memory bears
 
This story is like most,
there is joy, there is pain.
Good times, bad times,
a part of history it became.
 
A...

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The Athens to Atlanta Marathon is quite a race...
You have wheels on your feet and bugs in your face.

85 miles of misery and pain...
But a victory over self is what you hope to gain.

There were...

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One writer said, when it rain it pours.
But I must keep my focus on what God has in store.
Just received a call from my hometown.
My brother called to let me know my twin sister is...

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A Young Cowboy From Tulsa

I once knew a young cowboy in Tulsa
Broad shouldered with long blonde hair
He rodeo’d with the best of that breed
And was champion of our county fair.

He was a sight to behold...

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Dear depressed girlfriend 
Thank you for your note 
He's obviously the boyfriend of the year
So he's going to get my vote . 

Your boyfriend is in prison 
After he robbed the local shopping mall
but he'd...

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Note-- The Tulsa World Newspaper published my prose version of this in February 
1999 and I wrote this version later.


Poor orphaned Pluto is out in gloom and frigid cold
Considered an outsider, his bitter sorrow unfolds
Demoted...

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She wasn't one to worry, never saw her cry
Still she was melancholy, never told me why
Now she's gone a wanderin', didn't tell me where
Didn't ask where she'd go,the chance is I've been there

For I have...

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Living in the valley of O.P.P
Why in the world can’t  we let things be.
Trying to save the world and looking out for others.
Drowning in the stress and acting like their mothers.

Head spinning so fast...

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