Ode to the Mother Road by Nick Baker

LEGENDARY ROUTE 66

Ode to the Mother Road

By Nick Baker

Mother Road, Route 66

There are tales to be told,

Told in a road ode,

Bout the Mother Road.

An adventure road,

A romantic road,

A storied road.

Listening to tales,

Man found Indian trails,

Followed with wagon trails.

Of that one Westward way,

Man did a survey,

Laid a highway.

A ride of endless seams,

A road of many schemes,

A path for eternal dreams.

A road of untold grass clumps,

A road of a thousand gas pumps,

A ride of endless Ka-thump, Ka-thumps.

Described in romantic song and ode,

That ribbon of highway ode,

Is Woody's song road.

Hear America's inspiring song in ode,

Feel the romance of America's dream road,

The go west tug of that road.

A happy and sad road,

When times of despair bode,

It became the Joad road.

Nightly campfires glowed,

Family left beside that road,

Souls forgotten graves still hold.

A meandering road,

A peaceful road,

The Westerly migration road.

Goes forever it seems,

Its old movie screens,

Picturesque desert scenes.

Unlimited peaceful views to sketch,

On so many scenic stretch,

For memories to fetch.

On a serene Oklahoma drive of road,

Travel the heart of the Mother Road,

America's glory road, this road.

Panoramic views of the Western span crest,

Heaven and skies at their best,

America's entrance to the West.

Over land nature so blessed,

Beautifully caressed,

Romance possessed.

Pass an old farm,

Catch a scenic barn,

America's serene charm.

Passing nature's prairie stage,

Eyes and hearts engage,

Fields of wafting coral sage.

While at that stage,

Turn a seasonal page,

See fields of autumn sage.

Man's quarry,

The road to glory,

America's story.

A road most rode with out care,

Some rode in despair,

For all it was a trip affair,

Lure found this road,

Hope took this road,

Man romanced this road.

America's romantic road,

America's glory road,

America's Mother road.

Nine foot wide road outside of Miami, Oklahoma. Kathy Weiser, June, 2004.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

Roy's Cafe in Amboy, California, December, 2004, Kathy Weiser

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

Cowboy Motel along Amarillo Boulevard,

May, 2004, Kathy Weiser

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

About the Author:

Nick Baker has written a number of poems and prose, which are featured on his website Spirited Horse. Here, you'll find short pieces on humor, romance, children's' stories and Oklahoma history, including the Dust Bowl, Route 66. Oklahoma's land run, oil boom days, scenery, sunsets, skies, nights and legends.

Do you have an interesting story of the Mother Road, or know an interesting person that we should feature? Maybe it's you! Just zap us an email. See yourself on Legendary Route 66!

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

The Route 66 Map Series - Created by Mother Road Experts Jerry McClanahan and Jim Ross, the Route 66 Map Series, consisting of a separate fold-out map for each Route 66 state, provides an easy-to-follow through route and clear, simple directions to keep you on the right track as you take the historic journey down America's legendary highway. Each map is generously illustrated with original nostalgia art by McClanahan, and text by Ross includes the history of the road, tips on finding abandoned segments, and information pertaining to each state. These eight maps are an absolute must for every Route 66 cruiser.