Treading in the Steps of the Greats

"Good Night Dad"

Grandpa Ed and My Father Eddie Jr.

Looking back to my eighteenth year

sitting with gramps in the grandstand

He looked at me, said " listen son

life seldom goes as we planned"

"See your father out on the track

coming 'round in the post parade

You should be proud of him you know

for all the dues that he has paid"

"If you'd said fifteen years ago

that he was the cream of the crop

I'd beat you down, there on the ground

leaving your a*s on the blacktop"

"Not many get knocked down in life

then rise to the top of the hill

As life exacts a price you see

from those willing to pay that bill"

Years later we stood by his grave

my father, my brothers and I

Gramps hadn't shared this forgiveness

before he had to say goodbye

I passed that story to my dad

whose eyes said he understood

For as a man, it was my plan

to help ease his pain if I could

Then when my own father passed

I stood there holding his ashes

About to pour, across the floor

of the track that saw our clashes

In that one defining moment

I whispered a prayer to the Fates

"Please forgive the sins of my youth

"

treading in the steps of the Greats

Author's Note

When my father was young he gave my grandfather bloody fits. I know how he regretted it later. As he was so hard on me for fear that I too would take that road. He said to me "Son you scare me to death. Of all my children you are the one that keeps me up at night. I see myself in you and it scares me. Just because you are fearless doesn't mean you are immortal." I came to find he was right. I do not know what drives young men to temp the will of unkind fates. However I lived to tell the tales and my son now is doing the same to me. So there is justice. Last month he came home on a motorcycle to tell me he was tired of just existing and wanted to live a little. He wants to have adventures as I have had. God is paying me back for the sleepless nights I dealt my own father.
When my own father passed a year ago we poured his ashes across the race track where his life began and his race ended. Miss ya dad!

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Brilliant writing and poignant backstory told in your Author’s Note. Such a raw and personal family chronicle...the volatile give and take from fathers to sons, relived...Perfection in form, flow, cadence, rhyme, imagery, allegory. Superb, nostalgic family picture. You are a wise man. Thank you so much for the excellent poetic invitation to share your life. Bravo!

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Annette thank you so much Nice to see you today

[Mercy Fae Parizeau]

"life seldom goes as we planned"

How accurate this is. You've written a wonderful poem.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Mercy so nice to hear

[Sharon L.H. Kelly]

This is a great write, Tate. It's filled with the truth of what we know now - but didn't then. I have to believe that that we have been forgiven. Love the music and Author's Note.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Sharon I like to think that our transgressions are forgiven in the end is well and that we grow up eventually

[Dr. Wood ?]

the wheel just keeps on turning Tate, we never learn we simply FIND OUT

[Tate Morgan]

Hi doc you know I often lament the foolish things I once embraced but I know it was youth talking not wisdom thank you

[D Connolly]

This made me smile. We are only allowed the ignorance of youth once, and if we have nothing to regret when we're older, then we've led a pretty damned boring life.

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks D Connoly I agree I wish my own hadnt followed me into middle AGE

[Dark Empress]

This is beautiful and so much truth in it

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you it was just a story from my own life

[Chilson, Joshua]

Always a pleasure to be able to have time to sit and read your work Tate, thanks for sharing this.

[Tate Morgan]

You are very welcome thank you

[storyteller]

great poem. you are amazing writer. keep writing.

[Tate Morgan]

Why thank you I truly appreciate that

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

This was a great story you gave us about your life. It makes us all think about our own
clashes with our own parents and what shapes us into who we are. Nice work.

[Tate Morgan]

Zeitgeist thank you if you have or ever will have children do yourself a favor forgive anything they do

[Valentine]

Nine children my parents had, many learned from their elders experience, a couple gave mom grey hair. That is the cycle of life. Valentine

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you valentine

[1VJ]

Eventually each generation comes to appreciate the wisdom of the one before. Like a rock, well rounded and venturesome.

[Tate Morgan]

Paloma thank you I woke with the answer and the wuestion all formed in my mind