Archive: I'm a Golden Bear, man

Brick Street Poetry recently invited participation in the Indiana Bicentennial Commission-approved Birthday Book project. So, the Shelby County Public Library is conducting an open call to find a poem for the book that will capture the history and spirit of our esteemed county. With the April 10th deadline looming, thus far no submissions have arrived. So we created our own. If you don't start writing that inner masterpiece soon, we're threatening to submit.

I'm a Golden Bear (to the tune of I've Been Everywhere) I was pushing my squeaky cart though the aisles at Mickey's T-Mart When along came an old buddy with meat loading his cart. “So you've moved back to Shelby but where else good could you have been? I've not seen you at the festival, Grover Museum, or Bears Den.” He asked me why I'd ever left, had all I could stand And I said, “Listen, I still love that old pineapple whip stand.” I'm a Golden Bear, man, I'm a Golden Bear, man, I've crossed the circle square man, I've breathed Blue River air, man, Of Linne's I've had my share, man, I'm a Golden Bear. I've been to: Pearson, Edington's, Coulston, Shelby High Band, Cambridge Inn, View From Schwinn, Compton's, Sandy Allen’s. Carnegie, SCUFFY, Pasquale's, the Tastee Freez DePrez, Babe Ruth league, Linden tree, the Booker T. Lake fowl, John Deere plow, DQ cow, Charles Major Bears and Balser, water tower, and Art's Corner, not a stranger. I'm a Golden Bear, man, I'm a Golden Bear, man, I've crossed the circle square man, I've breathed Blue River air, man, Of Linne's I've had my share, man, I'm a Golden Bear. I've been to: Skyline, Five and Dime, overtime, Downtown Days Clown sign, come and dine, Spring Hill climb, parade stays. St. Joe, Nickelo, Inlow, the Public Square Radio, Casino, Sandman Bro, DeBaun is Mayor. Porter Pool, Vaught fuel, splash pad cool, Forrest Hill Sunday School, Golden Rule, wonderful Shelbyville. I'm a Golden Bear, man, I'm a Golden Bear, man, I've crossed the circle square man, I've breathed Blue River air, man, Of Linne's I've had my share, man, I'm a Golden Bear.

It's your turn now! Current residents having lived in Shelby County at least a year, and any non-resident born in Shelby County having been a resident for at least twelve years, will be able to submit one poem for the book. These poems may be up to 40 lines in any form, but their subject must be one that adequately represents the county. Brick Street Poetry will make the final selections and have the book containing at least one poem from each of the 92 countries published by the end of 2015, as we begin to celebrate the birthday of America’s great nineteenth state, our Hoosier Home.