Days That I Have Known

Tatertot

The days of life are winding down

as I but fear what lies ahead

My son has reached that time in life

that always filled my mind with dread

There's just a year until that day

when I just hope that I may grow

To be the man, I pray I can

as the time comes to let him go

This week we go on vacation

and as we share these times of  joy

Within the bonds of family

he'll spend his last days as a boy

I've done what I set out to do

back so many a year ago

 Instilling in him foundations

of all the things he needs to know

Oh please just let me be gracious

and smile when the day draws near

Then wish him well, as time will tell

if I can overcome my fear

For then my son will be a man

with strength to face the new found dawn

In knowledge that he's not alone

as my heart breaks for all that's gone

Author's Note

I knew this this day would come. It is so near I can taste it. I will walk out to see him off with a smile upon my face. Give him the speech I like to call "what it means to be a man". Tell him to trust his instincts. Never take something for nothing. Never take unfair advantage of another nor let them take unfair advantage of him. Help those who need it and respect all the women in his life. "Son the value of a man lies not in what he owns, but in what he gives to others". Then I'll wave as he sets off, as my heart simply breaks.

Reviews

[Veronica Chandler]

Warmth and tenderness wash over me in waves as I read this moving piece penned straight from your heart. The values you ask of your son as he sets sail on the winds of life are embedded in his DNA, for he is your son and has learned by watching you embody those values. It will take practice, like riding a bike for the first time takes practice and little bit of blood, but his foundation is strong. May his compass always guide him to a true north, so that he always knows where home is, the place he can always return to, and be fully embraced. Yes, your heart will break, it will never be the same again, but the wonders of watching him live out his life are well worth the pain.

[Tate Morgan]

I thank you very much I am trying my best

[Bridget Mcmaken]

Most parents do dread this day. Wonderful poem Tate, right to the hear this one is. Great job. Once again you wrote this piece so well.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you so much I am dreading that day lol But I will live to see him off

[Bridget Mcmaken]

I think every parent does. You are very welcome friend.

[Cree Nations]

Tate you have lived life out loud and with pride and heart. You have passed this on to those you've touched, and in this quest of letting go you are not alone.

Great write. Wonderful read.

[Tate Morgan]

I know it is what parents have done for millennia .It is however bittersweet as Is most of my writing. So fitting for my own life and times /Thank you

[aria]

This is lovely. I love the photos that accompany it as well. Your son is lucky to have you as a dad. My ex husband has all but abandoned his sons (not even cards on birthdays or Christmas and hasn't seen them in over a year). It breaks my heart that they do not have someone like you as a role model. My son Josh will graduate from high school next year. I can only hope that as a mother I have done as terrific of a job as you have as a dad and that he will go into the world with the values you describe in your "what it means to be a man" speech.

[Tate Morgan]

Hi thank you I am sorry to hear your own children do not have this in their lives.To tell the truth I did not either.i created these things in my own life after i had a family of my own

[TrimarcoRansome]

He will never be gone Tate, he is your son. Mixing cement and helping in the yard, popping around to spin some yarns, he is your son, he will never be gone! I love the way you make your words dance from the tongue

[Tate Morgan]

Helen I hope you are right .I hope he is around a lot. He swears he will be However I know what it is to be a young man Ill hold my breath

[Soul Fire]

such a beautiful message, a letter even to your soon...it really shows your close bond and the bittersweet moments that are soon to come(:

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks I write letters to him occasionally i have kept a few to give him when the time is right.

[Soul Fire]

Wow that's wonderful

[Tate Morgan]

Actually in the event of my demise i have an entire archive of recordings and letters to be given to him on each of his birthdays for 20 yrs into the future

[Soul Fire]

Wow that really shows your love for your son..and your need to pass on life lessons and wisdom to

[Penlady]

Hi Tate,

I've been busy cleaning and getting ready to move (probably by end of August) back to the house I and my first husband (father of my four) set up housekeeping in 1964...son rented the house from me but recently purchased his own home and ten acres...he and girlfriend put up the fencing and made a huge garage into temporary barn for their two horses...Michele was raised caring for race horses and kind of led a life like you traipsing along with her uncles and aunt at the races...Michele loves the horses and Kevin is learning to, my grandchildren love to ride too...
Anyhow, I took a break and was reading your poetry...came across The Lass and promptly had tears at the beauty...I ordered your new book so I now have all three,,when I have time in the fall I'll try a three-way book review for Amazon...I've done quite a few there. I will anxiously await your newest book and I know I will love reading it.

Your poem here about fatherhood is so full of love and tenderness...

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you so mucu you have always been a dear and treasured friend

[Penlady]

I am so thrilled you got another book published...good for you! I think I'm in for a wonderful time of reading and feeling...

[minisla]

In a similar situation and can see a gradual decline in the need for dad. And the troubling thing is it all happens so fast. One of the many things I fear. I hope he realizes what all the fuss was about and knows that you really love him and will continue to do so even when he leaves the nest.

[Tate Morgan]

tate and I have and always will be the closest of family He stayed by me when i was injured in my divorce and i never let him down

[minisla]

That's how all dads should be. Consistency and friendship and love. Sounds like he is proud as punch of you and vica versa. Thanks for your honesty Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

You are welcome I never missed a single thing in his life if I could find a way i went I taught him to hit run throw catch play and most of all I embedded a deep sense of fair play in him. You learn so much more of what we are made everytime we lose. It is the gracious loser that is always formost in my memories and the ones who forgave teamates weaknesses that echo down through my years.

[Jazique]

Awe that sweet, sad, but wonderfuol at the same time. So many parents must face the day they set there child into the world. It makes you admire parents that live in the ocean like seas turtles and birds as they so easily allow there children to venture out into the world right from birth but, at the same time they always seem to find their way home even though they never knew such a thing. Well done with the poem it was very personal, emotional, and wonderfully worded.

[Tate Morgan]

Jaz nice to hear from you I suppose that is why I chose the beach for my final vacation with him. It is the ultimate place to come to grips with life

[Jazique]

NIce, and true the beach is at the ocean where the world is prsented to you the most.

[Tate Morgan]

I agree he and i had a heart to heart over the weekend there.

[Jazique]

thats good

[A Soap Mess Stories]

If only we could tell all our children this when the time comes to become a responsible adult and hope we taught them what they need to know to succeed in life. I could relate to this as my son just turned 17 last week. I only hope I remember your words when I have to send him off into the world to find his way.

[Tate Morgan]

You will dear you will thank you

[one sky]

A father's heart will be forever the most loving heart. It's sad that parents have to let their child live in their own...but it's the reality that every parent should accept. What will remain to them was that prayer that he would be okay without them by his side..."to be a real man".
A wonderful poem, Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you margaux. It has long been my thought thati should steel myself for this eventuality.