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.

[saunved]

Oh, this is wonderful. Thank you for writing the poem!

[Tate Morgan]

thank you friend

[Devanshu Rajput]

a significant piece showing your bond towards the lovely family.......you described your love for him by a knife that you gave him that was given to you by your marine grandfather.....this type of pieces are rarely seen in the world of writings.....

''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'' would always ring in my head.............

[Tate Morgan]

thank you I am sure it gave a feeling opf love as i gave it to him not my own son

[Devanshu Rajput]

he would be glad to meet you?

[Robert Eustace]

Hi Tate: I haven't forgotten about your poem. I can certainly appreciate the generational bond in your family as deeply symbolized in the passing down of the knife. Imagine the stories that this particular knife was witness to ! ... even (Just whittling a piece of wood in order to while away the time on some clear and radiant Indian Summer Day, long ago.)

To pass such a significant family heirloom to a troubled young boy - a point of clear identification that yes, "You are like a son to me" and then your own son reciprocates and hands YOU a knife... all around, a simple knife lovingly passed down = something so generational and wondrously significant.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you so much so glad it moved you

[J. Hampton]

an artist as well !
this touched my heart.....
one man....can make the difference that will pay forward for generations
nice sketch as well

and Fabian lending musical magic...is the perfect touch...
although no surprise

[Tate Morgan]

Fabian is a jewel of this place and quite the music lover Thank you very much for that .The picture is one of 8 I did last summer

[Becky C Strukamp]

Tate, this is most outstanding! I love the father son bond and the love you put into this write. Thank you for sharing this endearing story. You know I love your stories!

[Tate Morgan]

I thought you might like it

[Becky C Strukamp]

:)

[Abdul Aziz]

Thank you for sharing this poem with me. I've always been amazed by the way you could forge a meaningful story in rhyme, without ever drawing attention to the rhyme or other theatrics that poetry might possess. I wonder how the rhyme always assists in your stories instead of detracting from them. And I also wonder how you've maintained such a deep love for life through all these years. Beautifully written. I must say that in my present scenario, you are the one poet who inspires me the most.

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Abdul the key to the happiness is simple I have the mind of a child LOL No really it is being able to take a childish honest innocence on into adulthood. Think back to those days .When you didn't have bills and responsibilities.Write of the innocence the wonder and the honest raw pain of life without the man made pressure of a adult life

[TL Boehm]

a beautiful poem and sketch. You're a triple threat you know.

[Tate Morgan]

a triple threat thats funny .I have a hard head but a very soft heart

[A.E. Surdam]

A wonderful voice and poetic flow. Inspirational and moving. Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you for reviewing the blade Im glad you liked it

[Melobldnfr]

Made me cry. For one, made me miss my granddad. For two, my father. Beautiful and deep write. Thanks so much Tate for sharing.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you so much that is so nice to hear

[Melobldnfr]

You're welcome Tate. Xo.

[minisla]

I'm sure he knows what you mean without saying anything

[Tate Morgan]

I think he does too Thank you