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.

[zainul]

Made the playing of cards with your friends so vivid and lively!
I seem to know them and also can perfectly identify Eddie among them-Specially and kindly treated by you.
I can also imagine the excitement that surrounds the space of the kitchen.
The photo and song have glorified the whole environment.

[Lena M. P.]

All anyone wants is respect for who they are inside. We cannot measure a person by their outer appearance. When God said he molded man after his own image he wasn't referring to his looks. He was referring to his soul. You reached in and saw his soul. Great poem Tate

[Heather]

what a wonderful man you wrote about in this poem. Another fantastic write about humanity and the power of kindness and friendship

[BrynnaW.]

Beautiful. Very few disabled people like to be seen as being disabled, they like to be seen as equals and you portray that perfectly as well as respect. A man is as good as his heart, able to put others before himself, and lead others to the goal he may have always wanted to achieve himself. Wonderfully written and an overall great poem! Perfection. Great job and keep on writing!

[Amanda Dawn Sanderson-G..]

A great write, thank you for sharing. Definitely agree that what makes a man is the respect of his fellows. :)

[Marie]

Your friend sounds like quite a man. I'm glad you treated him as one, and I'm sure he was too.

I remember "Hello Walls" being sung by Ferlin Husky (Or maybe that's not it; at any rate someone before Willie Nelson). I didn't listen hard at first, and I thought he was talking to friends "HellWalt."Hello Wendell..."

[Cole Hayley]

What really draws me to all of your poetry is how personal and proffesional you make it. Every poem it seems has a story or an expirence that you have encountered weaved into it.

[Rene Velez]

A solid effort and well said piece hear, you bring respect and equality to a human being who just wants to be treated the same as everyone else, nice write Tate.

[David Scott]

I first want to thank you for introducing me to David Paget. I knew I was reading a master the first read! He is nothing short of genius. Now, your poetry stands alone ad well. You have consistent well written well intentioned poetry that speaks to the heart of the best aspects of our humanity. Thank you for your quality in your poetry and your character!