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

[Coyote Poetry]

A excellent poem. To have the drive and dreams of a young boy again. Last lines are true. We get old and want to be young again.
Coyote

[Charles]

This is the best I've seen of your work. Good flow, rhyme that's not forced (I guess you can be forgiven the grammatical error 'to I' instead of 'to me' for the purpose of rhyme), a very good message and a nice description of a pastoral scene. I think 'boys' and 'fathers' in stanza 4 need apostrophes, and I have a problem with 'lure them of this goal' - this could be replaced by 'turn them from this goal' for better English. Great job on this one!

[Ladysue]

This was a very well written piece. A great truism...nicely done..

[LisetteCanWrite!]

This was so true for all.. it could be said the same for little girls striving for a mom's attention.. a boy wants to please the father so much and tries so hard to capture his attention. Today we live in a world where more men DO live and sometimes act like little boys.. scary to think that little boys may want or act like their fathers when the father acts juvenile or displays delinquincy acts affecting the views of a growing boy and what a real MAN is.. causing much confusion.

For the boys who do not have a father around to look up to.. it's even more confusing.. they try to mold themselves to what they think is a man and it's a struggle with little guidance and love. I hope a few fathers out there read this.. as it may make them feel more important even if they may be weekend dads.. that the sons need that love more.. as well as guidance.. a step-father can help but the love and bond is not always the same strength. I loved the flow, rhythm and rhyme to this.. a father CAN NOT fully be replaced at heart. Great writing full of wisdom!

[gimpy]

Exelently done I fill we all have the need to work for the approval of our father being a mear boy of only 13 myself I must say I felt the emotion and the reason of this pice again exelent

[Sexy P3nguin]

I really liked this piece. It had a great flow and touched me in a way I haven't felt in a while. Great job Tate!

[Tina Kline]

This was very emotional. Young boys wanting to be men and wanting their father's approval and men just wanting to be boys again. Very well written. Excellent flow. Very moving. Like this a lot.

[Bud]

A very moving piece. Felt this one in the heart. I couldn't help but think of my Grandfather while reading this. Excellent!

[deeps]

Wow! This is so touching and sincere
I can feel teh emotion intertwined into this.
Excellent write here.

[Stacey Watts]

This was an amazing piece. Very well written and the truth of what a father type figure has on a young boys life. Excellent job.