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

[JB Murray]

Not bad my friend. Not bad at all. I especially like the solidity of the last verse.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you I awake one morning to this realization that I am my fathers son

[Debbie_Philly]

Very beautiful emotional and loving piece. Great job.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you debbie so nice to hear from you i am not on as much any more but Ill try

[Siddhartha]

a beautiful beautiful poem Tate :)

[Tate Morgan]

Sid thank you very much

[Barbara Walker]

It all comes down, it rolls around with the one generation thinking the other has thinking so outdated, the other appalled at the younger cluelessness! Until the time (hopefully) there can be a meeting of the minds and it comes full circle. A very touching tribute, Tate

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Barbara this like all of my magi nations was drawn from real life and tells us all what we already knew I am my fathers son

[Mercy Fae]

This is deep and meaningful. Expertly done.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Sorcha

[AlieahRose]

The consciousness of your youth along with your storytelling makes this a beautiful coming of age poem. To watch you understand the great men in your family from your writing, gives you an edge that you may or may not have been made aware of. It is quite the breathtaking moment when you appreciate the complexities of the ones before you. Excellent.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you so much I have always been v
Blessed with a sixth sense for what lies just under the surface I hope I did them proud

[Jennie Baron]

I always love your poems and this is a tale well worth telling. We give and take from our parents and inevitably experience karmic justice from the next generation. As Pryde said, a beautiful testament to love and forgiveness. Thanks for sharing!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Jennie I guess we all find in the end that we have kept the best of what we were given

[Pryde Foltz]

Near as I can tell ... shame and guilt never live up to the healing power of forgiveness and love. Great writ as always, Tate:)

[Tate Morgan]

Pryde thank you yes I agree

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we drive them crazy, and then when they get close to the finish line we find ourselves regretting...
and yet, whether we know it or not, we learn from them...even when we are rebelling...and in the end we become them---
and even if they are gone...they are up there feeling proud...

the bloody fits were worth it in the end...

or so it seems.

love this write, Tate.

as i think of my 97 year old dad...we went through years of this---but now we seem to have reached a very peaceful point before the conclusion.

j.

[Tate Morgan]

Jacob thank you yeah I understand that logic we have to get a few miles under us to get traction on the future. It takes a while before we are old enough to look back and laugh at the folly of our youth we made it that is the crowning achievement

[DoormanDan]

I always love reading your work, Tate, I really mean it. I really enjoyed this narrative you've written here. It tells a very strong story with tonnes of truth, and I feel the way it flows from line to line, helps it deliver its message even more powerfully than it would without the flow. As always, you show us all your poetic proficiency! :)

[Tate Morgan]

Dan nice to see you. I feel like Im next in line for the river styx anymore. If only wisdom came earlier lol