The Reaper

 Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. Mark Twain

 

I stopped to see my father today

as he lay on his third deathbed

The Reaper visited two times before

but my father refused to play dead

 

"Son he said. Come sit with me

for I feel it my duty to tell

It's not that I have found Heaven

but more over I didn't find Hell"

 

I suppose when a man nears his end

he fears for his immortal soul

My father thought the sins of his youth

would reap him a horrible toll

 

To all of us who have known success

from labors and pains endured

It isn't the end that fills our hearts

it's by the journey that we are cured

 

For a man knows nothing if not that

as he learns from life's long way

Through troubles faced and overcome

strength and character grows each day

It doesn't matter which God you believe

nor which Heaven your bus runs to

Grow your faith in your fellow man

and perhaps he can go there too

 

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Author's Note

Out from the black of eternal night shone a ray of light!

Reviews

[lee von cleef]

How can I review, when you start out with Mark Twain staring me down? Will Rodgers he would of been easier,
or a wild thought Zappa, "Joe's Garage". You leave no room Fathers yours and mine have the edge, they could read,and not just books,Men , they would measure,the moment, the time, the gap in the man at the end of the hand,pressure, depth of eye,their force was knowing of the part out of line, by grace they would live and accept from others what they would not from you. The Bar was high for all, but we placed ours in our fathers will.

[Tate Morgan]

How apropos that you would mention the hand pressure i remember teaching little Drake the boy I adore to shake hands I told him how a man judges anothers character in a hand shake. We went to his school then that day to meet his teacher he shook his hand. The teacher turned to me and said Man what a grip this boy has. Lol The smile on little Drakes face was priceless!

[lee von cleef]

lesson they don't teach anymore.

[Tate Morgan]

How true I remember after that his other saying I never knew drake needed a man in his life till you came along up till then he pushed every man who got near me away suddenly you come along and he can't get enough I remember at seven him in the other room telling her if you don't marry Tate you will suffer my wrath lol he said you don't get it he is the only man whom loves me the rest all talk to me to get to you Tate comes here to see me as much as you how true that was

[Tate Morgan]

Children know they see right through facades they say what they feel

[jacob erin-cilberto]

very sad that he isn't leaving much behind...but this reminded me somewhat of dylan thomas..."do not go gentle unto the good night"

the fight to remain here.

nicely written.

lots of depth and feeling...and it comes across strongly..

in second line i think you meant "lay" instead of "lie" maybe?


but a wonderful write.

[Tate Morgan]

Jacob nice to see you thank you

[Rita L. Sev]

There are many excellent and thought-provoking lines here. Your opening stanza reminds me of the first line of an Emily Dickinson poem - "My life closed twice before its close..."

By the journey that we are cured, such a grand truth...
One of my favorites from you, Tate!

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Rita thank you dear

[Silhouette]

My father's great mistake in life
was thinking us just here for him
Leaving nothing of substance behind
the hopes for his future are grim

It doesn't matter which God you believe
nor which Heaven your bus runs to
Grow your faith in your fellow man
and perhaps he can go there too


A very beautifully written piece!

[Tate Morgan]

thank you very much

[Glen Yumang Manese]

You went Philo with this one --- Tate...thanks for the RR's to read your work again...the message was clearly understood in the lines and the whole read shows through...as a reader the embodiment of this was stated in each stanza...

[Tate Morgan]

thanks glen it was a strange experience with my own father

[Glen Yumang Manese]

You're welcome...I did not have a dad growing up...and we still do not agree to this day...yet we resolve our differences in our conversation...

[Tate Morgan]

Well I do not have much to do with my own

[Dr. Wood ?]

firstly...Mark Twain was a genius
secondly, you have once again managed to hit the nail squarely upon the head...Great write my friend

[Tate Morgan]

Doc oh doc can any of us truly know which way we will travel in the end? Or to what we will tie our hopes when at last we set our sail

[Dr. Wood ?]

no. Tate..it will be a mystery....but I have seen a ghost so I DO wonder

[Tate Morgan]

There have been mornings when the mirror reflected just such a ghost to me.I racked it up to the experience the night before

[Angel]

Interesting thoughts here, very well presented. Nice job, Tate!!

[Tate Morgan]

Angel thank you so much it is always a joy to host you at my site .

[Angel]

What an incredibly sweet thing to say, Tate!
You are always such a gentleman.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you It is my nature or so it seems

[TrimarcoRansome]

Tate my friend, we are all but human's here, none of us are perfect. In times of deep reflection such as this our perception changes. Beautifully written as per usual.

[Tate Morgan]

Oh Helen how sweet to hear your voice thank you

[Cree Nations]

Very interesting read. Have put it on my read again list.

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Che well it is an early poem of mine that i did not widely distribute. Thank you

[Leigh]

Great and uplifting and somewhat calming thoughts regarding one of the certainties of life, the other is Tax

[Tate Morgan]

Yes It is a sad testimony to face these things.

[Leigh]

It is, but one of the most written about I guess