Short Oil Rig Poems

On the balcony of a hilltop home near Santa Barbara California, late, on a warm, clear summer night, forty years ago, looking out over the ocean, with good friends, after hours of partying,  stars twinkled in the black sky, and lights twinkled on an offshore oil rig rumored to be the inspiration for The Doors song, the Crystal Ship.  We all just stared, one of us saying, that's The Crystal Ship.  

alone, together
vast sea and infinite skies
twinkles in our eyes
...

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I worked on an old oil rig
In red Oklahoma mud
Throwing chains and working hard
Sore muscles with sweat and blood

Forty eight inch pipe wrenches
Will sure tire your arms a bit
If you want to eat and live
You have to get used to it

When working 12 hours a night
It's likely to wear you down
One day when I got off work
I happened to look towards town

Treetops peeked above thick fog
A rainbow against the sun
That sight I'll never forget
A prize for a job well done...

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