Boyhood

Passing for gold in a little boy's heart, are the looks his father pays.

Beside patches of green grass meadow

golden wheat fields wave in the breeze

Beckoning out to all my fellows

come walk through me with ease

 

Upon just such a lazy day

I once casually sauntered by

Hearing the call of nature's beauty

thought that God had spoke just to I

 

With the sound of a lonesome whistle

down the river the steamers rolled

To this the backdrop behind the field

the childhood longing is all told

 

 Across the field dressed all in black

a boy and his team worked the ground

I stood to watch an hour or so

not moving or making a sound

 

A smile as wide as the river

shown across the boys bright face

Perhaps this was the very first time

he had taken his father's place

 

In him I could see a purpose

a reward for his tiny soul

I could tell by the way he worked

nothing would lure him of his goal

 

Long it is since I felt like that

as a boy just going on ten

Doing twice what was asked of me

to be noticed by him again

 

Passing for gold in a boy's heart

are all the looks his father pays

collecting what he can in life

to spend long into older days

 

In him I saw both rhyme and reason

as we all live and pass away

A boy working so hard to grow up

while we men all wish we could play

 

Author's Note

Is there anything that mimics the flow of life better than the big river? The mighty Mississippi rolls on to the sea.

Reviews

[Crowley]

I would like to see your poetry sprinkled about liberally in a documentary series about the history of our country. You have such an edge for nostalgic writing, it almost brings tears to my eyes every time I read something of yours. Your writing is a sophisticated Johnny Cash tune, the sweat off the back of a railroad worker, the glimmer in that young boys eyes when he knows he's done good. I just love it.

[Tate Morgan]

With this one review from eight years ago you cemented my undying gratitude and friendship I appreciate you. Many of the things I wanted to do and managed to accomplish here were directly attributed to a few good friends who through their attention brought a smile to the boy in me thank you

[Crowley]

Tate I have more respect for you than most people. You have been raising family and responsibility to new highs. Your writing always inspired me and you girmness in you political beliefs is to be admired. As one of my longest online friends, let me tell you I couldn’t ask for any better. Thanks for being a decent human being.

[Tate Morgan]

There’s hope for humanity for you and I and our children’s children May we leave them with
read moreThere’s hope for humanity for you and I and our children’s children May we leave them with
Kind thoughts of selfless behavior and a smile . As always your friend Tate

[Tate Morgan]

A better place a kinder beginning a more humane existwmce temlered by selflessness. This world today of narcesistic massaginy is creating a world of megalomaniacs someone has to be a voice of sanity we are that I hope

[Jerome F Knox III pseud..]

What a beautiful poem you have penned with bright hues and a deeper message that we are should be mindful of all.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you I suppose we all know what it is to be a boy.Unlike most i never wanted to grow into a man and took that into my adulthood

[Devanshu Rajput]

"A boy working so hard to grow up,while we men all wish we could play".

This is the line that deeply moved in the entire poem of yours. Truly, what is to be man, can be found in the dreams of a child.

Thanks for sharing the marvellous piece of write.

Devanshu

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Devanshu I think we all are simply children in mens bodies We are still the child we always werr

[Devanshu Rajput]

You are welcome. You are right, no matter how much a man is old, there is always a child in the their heart.

Devanshu

[Fabian G. Franklin]

It's wonderful to find the boy inside the man...to revisit the past and the warmth of memories held in the heart.

[Tate Morgan]

Fabian my friend nice to see you tonight. i thank you. Yeah i am the eternal boy trapped in the body of a man Like all of us lol

[realmwriter]

You must have had a really good relationship with your father and in turn well raised by him. I often think of how it was when I was growing up and every memory that appears is one of happiness but it's blurred at the edges. Yours, or at least what you write of, seem crisp and clear and so focused, it as if we are there, re-living them right along with you. That's an amazing gift you have Tate. To be able to so clearly communicate that which remember of child hood and raising your children. Your pictures are painted like photographs taken with the best digital camera. Just outstanding!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you I guess my childhood in my own mind is painted in pastels though the truth wasnt always good I only choose to remember the good times

[realmwriter]

I really cant remember the bad. But I need to deal with it all the same.

[Tate Morgan]

yeah i haVE SUCH A MEMORY I REMEMBER LIKE YESTERDAY ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN I WAS 3 AND A FEW MEMORIES BEFORE THAT

[realmwriter]

I can really only remember back to when I was nine. Maybe one or too from three. But mostly mine is patchy, there was a lot that I blocked.

[Becky C Strukamp]

The picture is magical together with the poem Tate. Your words are always so endearing and heartfelt. I love reading your work. And I am very much enjoying reading your book. Thanks my friend for sharing your artistry!! :)

[Tate Morgan]

Thanks dear here is a story as old as mankind. Worked for bled for tears shed for all eternity

[Areeba]

It's lovely, really brings to mind the awesome memories of childhood, thank you for sharing it!

[Mic]

Spent many a day on the big river myself, Tate, and agree. Probably the reason Mark Twain was always my favorite author, as he understood as well.

Is true, not much a boy won't do to be christened a man, nor anything most men wouldn't give to be forever twelve. Very well done!

[Marie]

The river flows on and takes the boy with it...perfect backgroud to the poem...steam whistle and all...

[Sourav]

Beautiful. Great imagery and depiction and a very good flow. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Crow]

A work of art, in both imagery and flow. My heart could invision the beauty and simplicity of life along the great river, as the scenes unfolded. But the final stanza sums up the truth of this beautiful piece:

"In him I saw both rhyme and reason
as we all live and pass away
A boy working so hard to grow up
while we men all wish we could play"