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

[N. Van Avery]

This is exactly what I was looking for in my contest. Right now you're marked as number one! Still have thirteen days to go though! Return the favor, check out my writing!

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Thank you I will try to get by your place here in a minute i have been off a few days

[Marie]

Abou Ben Adam loved his fellow man, and apparently that was enough...
At first I thought that was a picture of your father, but of course not...

[Pax]

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

~ yes, it really doesn't matter... nobody really knows what’s in the next life, human keeps on searching on what is truly there.. but i guess nobody has ever prove what lies beyond... no such evidence as appeared yet... stories goes running in our thoughts and in what we see and read in the media... our beliefs keeps on changing…
Our faith grasp a tight hold in us in our state of mind… perhaps he can go there too… the power of believing makes us so…
Reading your work is always a pleasure, Great Job.

[David Scott]

No man is an island... Your call to live for more than your own selfish gain... One more inspirational poem.
Thank you for your insight.

[quinfinn]

there's that infernal question again, Tate. you have answered it to my satisfaction....very touching and poignant write!

[Undying Glory]

wow this was really powerful work and just so true. i just love this one, you've made so many important points here.
"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 grow each day"
very potent words. there's no need to be fearful of death, for if we have led good lives it will be but a homecoming to our Maker. awesome!!

[Salvatore Buttaci]

And now once again, Congratulations for winning Both-Sides-of-the-Coin Contest!

[alesuriko]

I forgot to mention that I like the picture used, love Mark Twain.

[alesuriko]

Nicely written, good message. Very intimate with the imagery as well. The only thing that I would critic is the quotations used when the father is speaking. It would be more grammatically correct and more aesthetically pleasing if you didn't use quotation marks at the beginning and end of each line of the father's words. Since it is all his own speech and not two people conversing, it would be better to use one quotation in front of "Come" and then the ending one after "Hell." Other than that, good poem