Fast Eddie

If there is one thing can be said of the Race Track it is "That here you will find men at odds with life. Yet a brotherhood of likeness abounds".

Photo compliments of Ben White.

At the track kitchen that morning

I was playing cards with some friends,

There sat Pop Sigh, we called Dead Eye

and Fats Jimmy, who drove the Benz

The fourth man was Wheel Chair Eddie

a boy of eighteen, I'd been told

In a wheel chair, his cross to bear

on each God had broken the mold

Fast Eddie as I called him

suffered from Cystic Fibrosis,

"Outta my way" he'd always say

"don't need no damn diagnosis"

Eddie was cleaning up on us

 took me for two hundred and three

He was the best, wiped out the rest

 taunting all of us with his spree

The others always let him brag

in pity for his condition

Well that might be, but they weren't me

I'm not given to submission

"Eddie, you're a gimp legged freak,"

I'd said giving his chest a tap

"Get off your butt, keep your mouth shut,"

"hey Morgan I don't take your crap"

He waved the money in my face

"you fish bite the same old hook"

"Man" he would say, "you're easy prey

you make it sound like I'm a crook"

"If you'd climb outta that wheelchair

I'd have to teach you some respect"

He'd laugh and jeer, but show no fear,

well now...just what did you expect

But Eddie had such little time 

whereby we all knew his plight

What might I see, if I were he

I'd welcome their taunts to fight

While others made him feel sorry

for the state that he found himself in

Still I could see, he's just like me

though at times I would let him win

I think that's why he'd favored me

 why he'd sought me out most the time

The reason he, played cards with me

in the hope I would drop a dime

I never looked on him as sick

to me he was one of the Klan

He knew I'd say, "Eddie let's play

come on we need another man"

Author's Note

What makes a man a man, respect of his fellows. No matter the infirmity, therein lies our humanity.

Reviews

[lee von cleef]

There is a horse with his name " Fast Eddie Charles" they are twins, Tates' words and that horse, Tates' words and that man are life, they deserve , if you whimper they will demand.
R E S P E C T . Look in their eyes ,they will measure you, they will know if you are deep or just ,top water shallow. That is a man, That is a horse, and you better be "Tied on" if you "Tie"
into either one.

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good story. We will meet many kind of people. I met a few fast Eddie's. Good heart and fearless. I agree with your logic. Need respect and open door to friendship. We can learn from each other. Thank you for sharing the excellent poem. I like those old photos.
Coyote

[Dayran]

Whether its in the board rooms, parliaments or the neighborhood, there's always a kid called Edward who would be King. He lets us call him Eddie because he considers many aspects of what he is, plain and ordinary.... sometimes strapping himself in a wheelchair to do that and sometimes only growing up to 5' 5".

A good oservation, Tate on the way the heart sees further than the mind.... and the way it refers to our own practice of good faith in the issues. Its nice to see you put your back to issues that highlight aspects of your personality and do it in a manner that would skid many a skier. Our social processes rely on such communication, spoken without fanfare.... and the obvious assertion that we are all equal, aren't we? That we have nothing to declare but our honesty.

[de_maruf]

so good

[spiritwind]

Beautiful, Tate! And down-to-earth truth. Pity is what a person looking down on another might feel. Eddie would rather be "abused" and rough talked just like every other man who'd lived a tough life. I love your stories about the persons who peopled your life. Your stories enrich my life and I thank you.

[quinfinn]

although i don't claim to know all the technical aspects of writing i do know what is familiar and what i like...i never had any formal training in this area but i love to create
what agrees with me and pleases others. this is a special piece because it has life lessons and value and is written with expertise. another winner, Tate

[AK]

Brilliant poem, sir! It flows so beautifully and the ending wraps the poem up so well, I must say I love it:)
You expressed some delicate and subtle emotions so very well in this eloquent piece. Keep writing!

[The Refined Poet]

this is certainly well written. I especially liked the narrative style of this piece. We could get a clear glimpse of who Eddie (he reminds of a few people I have met in my life) really was through your eyes. your compassion and respect for him is evident by the excellent word choice. And as usual, you did justice to the Paget Meter (my opinion, of course).

[Michael G.]

Treat a man with the respect you would any other man, no matter his advantage or disadvantage, and you gain a friend. I know of several that would be highly upset if they were treated any other way.
Wonderful story and lesson to be learned here, my friend. Excellent write.

[Clayton Bardwell]

Hello window, is that a teardrop in the corner of your pain?

This my favorite song of all time. Farron Young made it famous but as your know Willie wrote it. Of course I couldn't read Fast Eddie until it was over.

Another amazing insight into your world at the track. There may be some that won't or can't understand your relationship with Fast Eddie.

That's the kind of back and forth that only brothers who have a special bond can know and appreciate.

I love the nick-names. Another show of respect that to outsides might seem disrespectful.

[Marie]

Farron Young--of course. Well, I had the "F" right. I didn't know Willie Nelson wrote ot

[J. J. Nightingale]

A good sound write .. You know I am not a slave to style, but that is my choice .. You do well in this style .. You subject matter always touches a chord .. Respect is the measure of a heart ..

Jazz