Bakersfield, California


I.


In the distance music
blended into the night
saying: come join in

On Edison Highway
or anywhere, really


II.


Bakersfield "the country music
capital of the west"

Oildale "a suburb of
Bakersfield" said Haggard

battled for its soul
like the devil versus man


III.


Today it is all young hat acts
along with teen blondes.

The clubs are long-ah-gon-ay,
the fiddles are long-ah-gon-ay
Bakersfield as capital long-ah-gon-ay.

But, oh, wait while we

dream of those days,
said a new bunch moved in.


-- Bryce Martin