Black Gold
Quote from Vermillion Star on March 26, 2026, 21:06In the dusty plains of Texoma,
Where red dirt lays its claim,
Many a man has fought and died,
with shovel, pick, and spade.
Some from wealth, while others poor,
Though most the same as stories go,
for theirs was that of tycoon games,
silver chains, and towers of bright orange flames.
At end of dusk,
these men at siege,
lumber off to hut and bunk,
to snore, and bray,
to sleep.
On new days' cusp,
the horizon creeps,
Ol' Luna gone away,
The oilmen creak their bone-shown joints,
they cough and spit and sway,
with limping feet,
their mind asleep,
they stand to find their way.
After flush,
quick mirror's peak,
their smile dull,
their gums as red as clay,
they walk to dine,
and finding seat,
their sight align on that cherry sheet,
the object of their fantasy.
Its handle round,
the shape concave,
ceramic, comely, sleek,
subtle steam from its chimney cascades,
clouding their eyes, promise of pay.
To their lips each man sips,
that liquid boon, dark, undressed,
its wealth, most insufficiently praised.
Why work now,
with treasure found,
black gold to start their day.
In the dusty plains of Texoma,
Where red dirt lays its claim,
Many a man has fought and died,
with shovel, pick, and spade.
Some from wealth, while others poor,
Though most the same as stories go,
for theirs was that of tycoon games,
silver chains, and towers of bright orange flames.
At end of dusk,
these men at siege,
lumber off to hut and bunk,
to snore, and bray,
to sleep.
On new days' cusp,
the horizon creeps,
Ol' Luna gone away,
The oilmen creak their bone-shown joints,
they cough and spit and sway,
with limping feet,
their mind asleep,
they stand to find their way.
After flush,
quick mirror's peak,
their smile dull,
their gums as red as clay,
they walk to dine,
and finding seat,
their sight align on that cherry sheet,
the object of their fantasy.
Its handle round,
the shape concave,
ceramic, comely, sleek,
subtle steam from its chimney cascades,
clouding their eyes, promise of pay.
To their lips each man sips,
that liquid boon, dark, undressed,
its wealth, most insufficiently praised.
Why work now,
with treasure found,
black gold to start their day.