Ode to the Mother Road

Mother Road, Route 66

By Nick Baker

Brick Road Route 66 north of Auburn, Illinois

Brick Road Route 66 north of Auburn, Illinois

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.

Route 66 east of Peach Springs, Arizona

Route 66 east of Peach Springs, Arizona

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.

Arcadia Round Barn

The Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma is one of the most photographed sites on the Mother Road, Kathy Weiser-Alexander.

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 without care,

Some rode in despair,

For all it was a trip affair,

Route 66 does not end along 6th Street in Amarillo, Texas, Kathy Weiser, November, 2005.

Route 66 does not end along 6th Street in Amarillo, Texas, by Kathy Weiser, November, 2005. (The sign is no longer there)

Lure found this road,

Hope took this road,

Man romanced this road.

America’s romantic road,

America’s glory road,

America’s Mother road.

 

Nick Baker © 2006, Spirited Horse LLC

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 66Oklahoma’s land run, oil boom days, scenery, sunsets, skies, nights and legends.

Also See:

History Beyond the Mother Road

Route 66 Facts, Figures & Trivia

Route 66 Main Page

Route 66 Photo Galleries