Through Kansas

There's a rocky stream, called the Arkansas,
From mountain peaks, where Colorado snows have thawed.
I followed her down through Kansas, stopped at an old cafe.
I asked for a cup of coffee, and a piece of pie to stay.
The choice was peach or apple, they also had rhubarb and bean.
I never heard of bean pie, but this was country I'd never seen.
I drove pn down continent, to a slow brown river bed,
Shaded by cottonwoods, it bore cottonmouths instead.
It was the Arkansas River, near its living end,
I floated its slow brown waters, to look around the bend.

Somewhere Deep Down

Somewhere in this earth, beneath the continent divide,
The core there must be wrinkled, else why do mountains collide?
Somewhere way deep down, flow molten rivers of rock.
There must also be oceans, where slivers of silica flock.
Somewhere mysteriously deep, crystals of alumina play,
Somewhere within this earth, will be calcium from me someday.

Ali

I met an man named Ali, a very gentle soul,

He studies at the University, where he learns to drill for oil.

We talked about his country, I asked him if he'd run,

He said, "Not at all! I've got permission from Tehran.

"My advisor's awfully busy, he works giant BP,
"All is well, they spilled some oil,

"But now he's ignoring me!"