The Blade

I know someday he'll cut himself as boys always seem to do Mixing his blood, with tears and mud to each owner it ever knew

Drake and I. Father son night at school.

My grandfather was a marine

who made us think he could spit nails

Forged in the war, baked to the core

a man honed from his life’s travails

From him came my own father

whom then worked sun up to sunset

Driving horses, on race courses

of a life I'll never forget

 

My grandfather had owned a knife

where it came from I'll never know

Held by this man, whose own life span

had never bent nor been laid low

He passed that knife to my father

who in turn then gave it to me

And through our blood, the dirt and mud

it had bound itself to all three

 

I met Drake when he was seven

a troubled, angry, lonesome, child

This wondrous brain, who hid his pain

in a heart that was brash and wild

He'd touched my soul in such a way

I couldn't help but feel his pain

So unafraid, I gave that blade

forging a link to my own chain

 

I know someday he'll cut himself

as boys always seem to do

Mixing his blood, in tears and mud

to each owner it ever knew

I wish I could have been Drake's dad

so sad that I wasn't the one

I hoped he'd see, this gift from me

was meant from a father to son

Author's Note

Drake and I have had a bond that was as strong as any father and child. I passed my knife onto Drake because he would appreciate it. I had hoped whenever he held it he would think of the bond between us.

Reviews

[Veronica Chandler]

This moving piece reminds me of just how profound an impact we have on the lives of one another; truly there is no measure sufficient to judge how a small and simple gesture can and does change the very fabric of people. Something which may seem a kind and moving gesture, may in the end, turn out to change the very course of a persons life. That simple act can grow exponentially and reach far beyond our wildest imaginings. Even our highest hopes for someone could easily be surpassed by the actual good, in the end created by a simple, thoughtful act of kindness. Those that came before us blazed the trail and made the way clearer for all those to come afterwards. I doubt your grandfather could have imagined how his legacy touched the life of someone he would never know.

""Every boy that has a father missing from his life, has a hole inside his soul the size and shape of his father. The mother can raise a good citizen, an educated man with good ethics and values, but he will always have that hole inside his soul; the size and shape of his father."
~Oprah~

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Veronica.It didn't go unnoticed by me that Oprah agrees with Mark Ric and I. Happiness is a joyous child.

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Tate,

sometimes what a kids needs as much as a Dad is a father figure, which it does appear that you provided ...

[Tate Morgan]

Drake and I are still good friends 14 years after I first met him. I agree he needed a father I wish I could’ve been at Father. I did what I could and continue to do so every boy needs a father

[Lydia Shutter]

I am sure Drake will treasure the knife you gave him. He needed a man in his life and he has you....wonderful! How special your son gave you a new knife that you can pass down. Very touching words here. Lydi**

[Tate Morgan]

I went to lunch with him The other day now he is 20 years old. And obviously he and I never gave up on one another. Of course I no longer date his mother but I saw no reason to let him go

[Chris Shaw]

Boys need a father figure. I think it is wonderful that you were able to have such a close bond with Drake, who clearly from your author notes was in need of care and understanding at an early age. To be able to look on another with the same affection you have for your own son is very special indeed Tate.

Always a pleasure to read your poetry. You have such a wonderful command of the meter, rhyme and language. Have a great day.

Pleased to find a post from you today.

Chris

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you. Now it has been many years. 13 years since I met him he was seven years old. He’s now 20. He still calls me. I went to lunch with him the other day in Columbus

[Chris Shaw]

That is a sure sign that you have a special bond all these years later.

[Tate Morgan]

Yes For all intents and purposes I was the father he didn’t have

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I tell you … not having a father in your life leaves such a void. I would think this void is even greater for a son. It's really a shame. I hope that him having you in his life gives Drake a sense of wholeness that, I feel, can only come from having a father. Your gift, your heart, your love and compassion should touch Drake deeply. I hope he knows he's loved. Well penned.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you yeah he knows I do think he is scared by not having a father thanks for reading this

[Draven]

I just returned to this site after being away for three years. This is the first poem I have read since coming back. Found it on my feed. I remembered your name, and I could recall enjoying your work, as it was among the highest of skill out the the people who congregated my friends list. Anyway, I enjoyed this piece a lot. And I totally understand it. It takes me back....

My own Dad and I have no relationship, but I carry a small knife that I bought, and I got it because it's the same one that he had years ago. My grandfather who passed away bought me a knife that I still keep on my desk at home. And one day one of my knives will be passed on to my own son if I have one. Additionally, I will pass on my sword to that Son, or to the man who marries my daughter when she is old enough. There is such a rich tradition and meaning behind the passing on of a knife or some sort of bladed weapon/tool. It's primitive, in a way. Something natural, like our bones. To me, it's almost like passing on a literal piece of ourselves and our history. Ah. I'm rambling. Anyway, great work here. I deeply enjoyed this. Very much so.

[Tate Morgan]

Hello trip thank you. It is such a simple primitive thing as you say. The passing of responsibility as well as the acknowledgment that you assume this boy will one day become a man. It is the approval of the adult for the child that lends the child self-worth and reinforces his desire to be a good man. Now nine years later I am still friends with this boy who is now a young man. I’m sure he still treasures that knife

[Napoleon has returned]

thank you for submitting these art to my contest, goodluck

[Tate Morgan]

You are welcome thank you

[wordman]

touching and profound,we all need to be like this!

[Tate Morgan]

Sometimes it's easy to see why a little boy needs a father thank you

[wordman]

my pleasure

[B]

Deep and dark
A knife yet resembles so much more

Distant memories and pieces of people we carry on our journey

[Tate Morgan]

Yes but to a man it is a right of passage to be given such a thing .A treasure for any boy

[B]

I know the feeling
this is quite exquisite

[Einstein Noodle]

when i was around 5 yrs old we lived in Oklahoma. i remember a lot of things tho so young. one is of a sailor friend of my dad's that came to visit and he tried to show me mumbly peg and the arts of throwing .. i did slice my finger a good one and no one made much of a fuss about it ;) i have one of my grandfathers knives... inlaid with a dragon of pearl on purple .. its a switch blade and who could ask for more?!
your mix of poetry, story telling and song simply never disappoints me .. how fortunate for Drake to have been welcomed into your family .. :) nice job Tate!
E.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Einstein Yes I also gave Drake a Harley Davidson switch blade a bit later what more could a boy want?

[Einstein Noodle]

oh my goodness ... other than the dream i can't think of a thing! .. well done sir!!
E.

[realmwriter]

I know this tradition well. I too was passed a knife as a child, my grampa gave it to me. Sure wish I still had it. Kinda feel guilty that I don't. But I can't go back and find it, nor ask my grampa passed, where I might have put it. But I'm sure he understands, that I was just a kid who didn't know how to be a man. Great piece Tate. I really enjoyed this one.

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks man I wish you could find your knife it does have meaning and know what it is like to feel attached through it to a loved one

[realmwriter]

I don't need it to feel attached. My grampa is still there but I would still like to be able to find. Your welcome Tate.