A Young Mans Dreams

Me back when I was a horseman. Circa early 90s

I hardly remembered my dad

from the time when I was a boy

When he left we were all bereft

there alone to fend for our joy

 

So with a pocket full of dreams

I traced the river as it flowed

More like a stray finding his way

I departed the winding road

 

I went out to try my fortune

and find the father I had lost

How I would grow I didn't know

investing my youth was the cost

 

He was a man of single mind

who would rule with an iron fist

Much was my fear when he was near

that I would make it to his list

 

 

After many years we parted

as I developed my own ways

Never dull my life is grateful

to have had those wonder filled days

 

Tate

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Author's Note

The life of a horseman is a tough road.The track is the crossroads . Where a man goes to mortgage his soul to the devil for success. It is where the last refuge of the illiterate met the dregs of humanity. Many if not all of us there were at odds with life. From there we all plied our trades, tested our mettle, and grew to manhood. Life as it has always been presented to me was a struggle. But to a young man who had the advantage of 6 generations of predecessors, it was a river of humanity running free. Just as the wind that blew across my cheek each race. Every day the races allowed a man to redeem himself from the day before. To be reborn each and every night. I love the adventure my life has been. And think we all love the feeling of climbing aboard a horse and melding our powers with theirs. Becoming a hybrid of flesh and steel. Increasing our powers ten fold. To be for all intensive purposes a god for a couple minutes. The track for a young man is such a place. It is a microcosm of both the world we live in, and the world of the past that our ancestors lived in. With salvation at the end of the rainbow. At 18 I set out to find the world I had lost. I held 50 dollars to my name. Little did I know I was in for a adventure Ali Baba would have envied.

Reviews

[Deviant Works]

This is a very uplifting, inspirational piece to me. It brought to me many fond memories of times with my father, how he had helped me grow before I made my own way. I have always said that my father is the "Country" in me, he is my love for the outdoors. I truly love this poem for the dusty road feel, for the images of horses and strong-minded, labor bearing men. Calloused, dirty hands but grinning in triumph. For the times and people that make us who we are today. Wonderful poem, Tate. Beautiful in so many ways.

[The Analog Kid]

Racing horses sound like an extremely hard life. You detailed the adventure and longing nicely.

[Gone]

This poem shows your inner strength well. There is within it that combination of sadness yet hope is at no point ceeded. Quite the reverse, you come right through to the other side. I like this on a lot

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

You really tapped into the soul of the young man who is hungry for adventure.
I enjoyed the way you display the costs of such adventures.

Very beautiful! I don’t know my birth father at all, I was adopted. I often have an urge to find him and get to know him, because after all he is my Father. So I understood those lines.
A poem that has an extremely strong message, one that I think a lot of youth could benefit from!

[John Jackson (El Juero)]

The cost of youth can give a return tenfold. Beautifully remembered coming of age tale. Most enjoyable read. Thank you.

[M.Babu]

Beautifully confessed there Tate. Your words resonate all the memories:anxiety, refreshed hope and vitality.
The third stanza is my favorite...i can relate with that but you have guts. 50 dollars? Yikes!!
The flow of the poem is astounding...it was smooth and extremely rhythmical. And it had a message and told a story. Very deep work here Tate! And i love this!

[Arabdha]

lovely..filled with positivity and hope..

[Robin]

these words show you know that the meaning of life is to live ...

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

The track is fun to visit i don't know about 'living' there. Seems it was good to you.
Many memories made and adventures.
It is sad not to know your dad. Same for me till i was older. When we did get to know each other it was wonderful he was or i was a lot like him.
I enjoyed this road..

Chloe