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.

[Silhouette]

Kind of dark and a little chilling...overall, it's a very interesting and heartfelt story. I enjoyed the emotion you tied into your words and it reads miraculously. Thank you so much for sharing =)

[Tate Morgan]

thank you though i dont see the dark part

[Silhouette]

I met Drake when he was seven
a troubled, angry, lonesome child
A wondrous brain, who hid his pain
in a heart that was brash and wild

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

I don't know...that part seemed a little dark to me.

[Tate Morgan]

Drake is the most intelligent child i ever met .When i met him he had no father and it made him very sad He latched on my and never let go

[Silhouette]

Ah, okay...my mistake then, sorry. Take away my dark comment and it's a really good story.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you you are a goodsoul

[Silhouette]

As are you...you are welcome =)

[Tate Morgan]

thank you

[Dhaye]

So touching. I admire your attitude towards Drake...and the unconditional love you have for your son. With this blade or none, I know the bond is that love in your heart.
Good write.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Drake is a deserving soul

[Tate Morgan]

thank you for this

[Phibby Venable]

Very well written! Excellent beat & tone as always. Thank you for sharing, Tate!
I was a little uncertain of why you would pass the father/son generational knife
to Drake, instead of your own son. Especially since your son bought a knife to have the same sort of connection with you. Perhaps you knew Drake needed it more? Either way, very fine writing!

[Tate Morgan]

I asked my son first and he said Drake needs it more we will start our own between you and I

[Phibby Venable]

You and your son both have such beautiful hearts. Drake is lucky to have you in his life. Wonderful writing. I love the art. Expressive & beautiful. xx

[Tate Morgan]

thank you i am twice blessed this day

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks Phibby you are a sweetheart

[Patches I'm not so new..]

Absolutely a mind blower Tate and so reminicent of my own childhood However it wasn't a "Randall" It wasn't a "fightng knife" it was a Boy Scout edition of the (in)famous Barlow!
But this is soooo like that experence that it's scary!
WoW! Loved the song too!

[Tate Morgan]

thank you there are some things intrinsic to all boys

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A highly emotional piece that stretches across all lines, it delves into the soul of your readers, well done, good read.

[Tate Morgan]

you are one who is every bit as emotional as i so i bounce these off you to see what they do to you thank you

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

your welcome x be well my darling x

[Tate Morgan]

Thomas Thank you such a tender soul

[Michael G.]

Very moving and strong write. Superb form as always, Tate.

Obviously the bond is strongly felt in you. I would think he probably understands the importance of this knife. If not, have him read this. It speaks of love and caring and so much more than about a knife.

[Tate Morgan]

I know he feels it and will always feel it.He is a good kid and he deserves it too

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks Michael you are always so nice to be around

[Donna DeLong Matthews a..]

Beautiful heart touching write. Thank you so much for share'n it with me.
Hugs
Donna

[Tate Morgan]

Donna so long since we talked thank you i always roll out the red carpet in your honor

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Donna i always treasure talking to you

[Donna DeLong Matthews aka Gold Pen Ghost]

Tate bless your heart and yes it has been a very long time ... too long.

[s y e]

Wow, such an emotional, touching write here, Tate. Nicely done, it was beautifully structured. You just let your heart out in this write, superb!

[Tate Morgan]

thank you so kind of you

[Tate Morgan]

Noodle Thank you very much

[s y e]

Welcome

[David Lewis Paget]

This must really be an American thing, Tate. Giving a knife to a child, or in Coyote's case, a gun. It's something that in Australia we're trying to wipe out, there are so many stabbings and shootings in the street now. It's illegal here to even have a knife on your person, it would get you arrested. I suppose it's a cultural thing, but not one that I could ever understand.

[Baby Ricochet]

Paget virtually every culture on earth has had some kind of male bonding ritual involving the passing on of weapons from the older to the younger generation and considering the "tough guy" reputation Aussies have I'm sure Australian men do it too. Male bonding isn't "an American thing" Paget. It's a man thing.