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

[Jamie Taylor]

Very Well Written! I LOVE The First Stanze.
Extremely Well Written
Keep Up The Good Work! I Am Going To Read Your Other Stuff Too(:

[J]

Oh ...... this does express the heart of one so left behind, tate. i know these torments of the soul. but on the flip side, his progeny has gained strength from his weaknesses and character flaws ..... all is not lost nor stolen from you, hon. the wounds and scars are yours as battle scars -- wear them proudly, you have simply chosen the path less traveled ~ that toward compassion, empathy. maybe someday even ...... gratitude for the hard-won wisdom. you've earned the kudos. xo
j

[gimpy]

from begining to end this poem spoke to me the emotion that you feed it as you wrote is awsome at least like always your poems are a plesure to read

[Coyote Poetry]

Wisdom in a man last words. When death is near. We look at deeds done and wish for better days. I like the story and the last lines were amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Coyote

[emmajoy]

Love one another ..

as I get older, I realise that to love other people we have to love ourselves .. to love ourselves we have to know the difference between good and bad .. evil .. and do what is right, know that is how He directs and wishes us to be.

Every Man surely to reach Heaven .. to reach a state when all's well, beautiful, calm .. and maybe, before we die that's when we ask ourselves questions .. that's when we repent and the love, that special Love touches you on the shoulder and tells you that no matter your past .. you've always been loved.

Your words always set the mind going, Tate ..

[Sean Allen]

On this, I have long believed that we will pretty much end up where we expect to go. I suspect that God would be forgiving and let us all into Heaven. I have three children and couldn't imagine ever sending them to Hell, so how could someone we call Father ever do it to us.

[Ebb and Flow]

It's true. If only we can all believe in each other.
"Through troubles faced and overcome.
Strength and character grow each day."
People do grow with troubles and hardships and because we go through these things we find ourselves that much stronger.


Krys

[Rowanna]

Thank you for entering my competition Tate. Once I have read all the entries, I will inform you of whether you got through or not. Also, I apologise for not reading the entries earlier, there have been other things on my mind.

[Helen Crutchett]

Oh very well written Tate! Great wisdom from a great writer.
You certainly have talent, that is why you are our "Featured
Poet of the Month" at Albert's Poetry Cafe!! Congratulations
and I hope that many poets will stop to review your awesome
writes!Congratulations and enjoy your spot in the limelight!

Happy penning....

Helena

[cquig]

Wow Tate, you are an old soul, I can tell even without looking in your eyes. Your poems tell stories, stories that pull me in and always create a certain mood within me. Thank you!