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.

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

wonderful poetry as always my friend.

[Tate Morgan]

thanks Neevee love ya

[Pete Langley]

- The symbolism of gifts passed on through generations - not necessarily of blood - is a reminder of an unbreakable bond that is priceless. I enjoyed this enormously, Tate. P.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Pete

[Nayan]

Your words draw a picture in my mind, vividly, of Drake and of you when you passed the Knife to him. The emotional bond that the knife symbolized between fathers and son, and of the wish in the father's heart that one day the son shall understand its true meaning - all these touch me deeply!

The accompanying song of the 'Randall Knife' also is so revelling! Never knew that 'a knife' can so well represent the love and affection between a father and son so well!

Thanks for sharing Tate. Thank you!

[Tate Morgan]

Nayan i always treasure your thoughts thank you

[VALORMORE DE PLUME]

You have a wonderful way of extracting feelings from the readers. It shows that you put your feelings into the words. This is endearing and eduring.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you Val its nice to hear from you

[Pax]

ahh... yes I remember Drake well on one of your poem i had read last six months ago(lol..i did dig in to your library to know if i remember it correctly...) an ode to a friend in which it surpasses that... it's more of a letter from a father to a son... Being there for him, I am sure he will truly appreciate your valued time and care for him.... I think i know he will be a good person someday... with you guiding him, he will come a long way to a better brighter day... Expressive work mr. Tate!

[Tate Morgan]

pax my man thank you

[Mysty Johnson]

This is a beautiful tribute from a father to a son. I also know a girl who was born from another.... I call her my daughter. Our hearts expand but never fill. ..ooh gotta write. Thanks for sharing and inspiring me Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

you are so kind thank you

[Leslie Philibert]

a fine mix of the personal and the literary, the turning of personal experience into an excellent poem...

[Tate Morgan]

leslie thank you

[Dayran]

I've been carrying a Swiss army knife for 25 years. As a continuity to the next generation, I can't think of a better gift.

[Tate Morgan]

YOU,SIR ARE NEXT TO BE KNIGHTED

[Dayran]

Are we playing knights now? I'll be Lancelot. You can be Arthur.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you Sri

[Wórdsmíth]

well written

[Tate Morgan]

thanks hunter

[Tate Morgan]

thank you

[Marc Marlon Villaflor]

Moving piece, stunning word play. Love the lines below it is the heart of the poem.


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

[Tate Morgan]

thank you

[Tate Morgan]

thanks Marc