Character

Tommy Persinger a man of Character.

Tommy Persinger

What makes of a man's character

are built of actions on life's field

Not from the size of his body

nor of the power that it may wield

 

Who can say they do not cherish

the idol of their childhood dream

Where they built for them an altar

from which their tiny heart then beamed

 

The traits that we adore in them

what we all wish that we could be

Sown from seeds of imperfection

and that handsome humility

 

Rising again time after time

drawing on the strength all but gone

But oh what lofty heights indeed

for us to place our laurels on

 

Author's Note

My son Tate and Daughter Aris lost their grandfather Tommy yesterday. He was a mans man. My son would come home from helping his grandpa work blistered and exhausted. Look at me and say" It's embarrassing I am in my prime and my grandfather can out work me. What is that old man made of?" He will live on in our collective memories as a man of Character.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Being more plain-spoken & forthright myself, I'm not a fan of the elizabethan style of transposing elements in a line, but you do this with smooth-flowing aplomb & strong rhyme/rhythm. It's a rare thing to applaud a person for having good character, so I love how you highlight this attribute mostly, among other strong traits. Family ties & honor are strongly felt here! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Tate Morgan]

Hey Margie thanks. Character just seems to be something that is totally overlooked anymore

[barleygirl]

Amen! And to me, character is everything!

[Tate Morgan]

Same here. That’s why I liked Bernie so much

[Patricia Wedel]

So true... older people with character can do remarkable chores with balance and precision.
Grandparents teach by example. A life well spent in service... giving to others,
they receive a gift of knowing that good deeds trickle down like a Spring on a
mountain side. A lovely poetic gem. truly, Pat

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you pat

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Tate... our most sincere condolences for your loss. Another Angel 😇 in the Choir. Amen ... God bless... Pat

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you pat

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This one touched a spot in my heart. I'm reminded of my own dad, a WWII veteran who fought in the Pacific Campaign and worked two jobs and went to college classes at the same time to feed his eight kids. I was the youngest. He was a mechanic, an engineer, an electronics whiz, a farmer and an avid reader of books. His was a life filled to the brim and running over. But he passed away at 59 (younger than I am today) of lung cancer. Such lives deserve more than words can bestow in terms of honor or even 21 gun salutes fired across a steel gray sky in the rain. I'm sorry for your loss because it is the loss of us all, every time we lose one of the greater generation; where hard work and honesty were the common man's nobility and integrity was just a way of life. Great write, Tate. I enjoyed every word.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Fabian honored to receive that review .

[Chris]

True words and deeply felt...

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Chris thank you for stopping by. And the kindness

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Men like Tommy are rare and getting fewer by the day. Your poem is a lovely homage and testament to his admirable character.

[Tate Morgan]

Linda thank you. I agree they don’t make those men anymore

[Chris Shaw]

A fine tribute to your children's grandfather. You have penned a fine poem here Tate. Your final two lines tell me how highly thought of and the type of man he was. One to look up to.

Chris

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you. The accompanying Entourage to the funeral was over 3 miles long

[Fran Marie]

So sorry for your lost Tate..the likeness is uncanny ..you look amazingly like him..he sounds like a man of strong character indeed..a fine tribute you have written here..

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Fran he was a kind soul I tried to make his passing as comfortable as possible

[Fran Marie]

So vey welcome dear friend;

[jacob erin-cilberto]

great song to accompany this tribute to your dad....I lost mine recently, as well, and i looked up to him in so many ways...we were different, but parts of me emulated him...Saw his character just like you did with your dad.
wonderful poem, Tate,
j.

[Tate Morgan]

Jacob he was my father in law my sins grandfather on his mother’s side and my friend

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sorry....my mistake...still it was a beautiful tribute to him...and i feel for your loss...

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you no apology needed He was a great man

[Robert Trakofler]

One summer I worked for a terrazzo &marble company I was young and thought I was strong especially when the company owner said all of the workers were over 70 and he wanted my help to give them a break! the level of tired and exhaustion I felt after working with these old men has never been replicated since!:) all Italian immigrants that came from marble cutting families and worked from the time they were children! I had new meaning to the word character after that summer sounds like he would of gotten along swimmingly with that crew!!!!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Robert. I haven’t been on the last couple days events of my life have taken precedence. I’ll try to rectify the situation and I thank you again. It is true many of those who made a living with their hands in their mind I haven’t been on the last couple days events of my life have taken precedence. I’ll try to rectify the situation and I thank you again. It is true many of those who made a living with their hands Give us a look into a time when we would have been considered in adequate.