The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-08
Book Of Rhymes Bredthes
Shirt Of OH Fieids

World Oh staU
Tho volume of poems. published
under the title "LubticatIuns' might
well he christenod Songs Of the on
Fields" for those verses, written In
the ffoc, easy style of tho oil vcr-
nacular. fairly oAhale the atmos-
phoro of the derrick country
These are tho first poems 10 he
published by W g. CBiID Long, one
ot the most widely known characters
I'm the oil history Of Oklahoma.
Many of tho roilicking rhymes have
been published from time 10 time in
different oH journals and, In style,
some of them resemble the writings
of kipling, Service, Guest and Riley.
"Bm" Long is one OF the real pio-
ncor oil men. lie was born In Penn.
Hylvauia In 1865, and from the time
he WAC q child was associated with
tho oil country Ue worked, later.
West Virginia and Indiana, an which
latter state he became close friend
OF james Whltcomb Riley to whom
he has written ana dedicated an in
toresting verse entitled ITO James
Whitcomb Riley on Receiving the
Degree OF LII. u"
enjoyed for their musical, swinging
lilt as well as the sentiment eX-
pressed, not only by those familiar
with the oil language. but by the
general public az we'll The follow
ing is ono Of the most expressive
bits of rhyme in the volume, en-
titled The Song Of the Derelict'
II follows. In part:
i'm ono Of the "On Country Broth
crhood. I'm an oid-time pioneer;
was one of tho first. oh, Cod
how I've cursed the oil fields!
but eth I'm here.
I've swehted athirst In It's summer
heat, I've frozen and starved In
It's toll.
I've followed my dreams by it's thou
sand streams. slayed and worked
for it's OIL
Look at my eyes. they've been
burned twice. look. two fingers
are gone;
And the grnesome scnr on my left
cheek is where tho spudding
shoe cleft the bone.
Each one brand of this devilish
land. where I've played and lost
the game;
a broken wreck with n craze Tor
booze without n cent to my
name.
This drilling Is only a gamble. the
worst Is az bad as the bestl
I was hooked up right and might
have come out. right on top with
the rest:
with Crawford, McGrew and Me
nj I'm no
to think
OF the coin OF the realm I've squan-
dered. on cards and women and
drink.
AT Sistersville money was dirt, SO
easy To get and to spend.
I got stuck on a Chambermaid, but
she shook me In tho end:
That made me a bum and for over
year | never drew sober
breath.
TIL ! found myself I'm hughouse
ward with IA lease that's bounded
by death.
Thirty years in the oil fields por-
ins over its maps,
Sometimes eating Ia carte, some.
times dining on scraps,
NJ Bathed In the amber fluld, In the
winters fiendish cold
Thirty years In the oil tcld-30 yeart
and I'm old,
Come. Bill, turn your wheel quick
my auto awaits in the court.
III play you this stack OF blue
? ones" just to show you I'm q
sport.
/ How many tanks did she make. Bill'
/ Come on aud play out the game
Dear God. up in heaven. what
; You here, KIT Hallowed b'
thy name.
, And this was the song of the dore
liCt, as he lay in his shack alone
With none to care for the still form
there. the lips had ceased 4
moan;
In the pickering light-'tis grue
some sight when God calls
wandercr home"