One Father to Another

Behind those eyes then rose a tear the first blood I had ever drew From the depths of his tiny soul where innocence bid me adieu

Son Tate

Each day my son with thoughtful eyes

looked up to me through his laughter

Knowing I would be kind and wise

from that time and ever after

 

 

Once bitten from pain of divorce

I had shed teardrops of my own

From depths my boy had drug me back

he had never left me alone

 

 

Then came the moment I had feared

when my temper did hurt my son

Deep like the pain from my divorce

left me to ask, "what have I done"

 

 

Behind those eyes there rose a tear

the first blood I had ever drew

From the depths of his tiny soul

where innocence bid me adieu

 

 

Fearing grief would hinder his sleep

and not knowing what I should say

I looked to find him in slumber

there beside our picture he lay

 

 

Asleep in pain his eyes had closed

I felt my heart begin to moan

A sole tear lie upon his cheek

where I left a few of my own

So now whenever I am asked

to bless him with my permission

I think on what I lost that day

when I forced on him submission

Author's Note

Whenever my son asks for my permission I always ask myself now, who will it hurt if I say yes? If the answer is only myself I always say yes. A lesson I learned the hard way. It seems I learn best that way. I should say the reference in this poem to blood being spilled was metaphoric, not literal. In this case I had just lost quite a bit in the divorce and was distraught. Little Tate just wanted my attention. When he started nagging me I turned on him and launched a tirade his way. The look on his face as a tear arose from his soul was heart wrenching. Having never seen me so upset he was devastated. The barb launched his way rebounded off his innocence to strike me dead center in my own heart. I had broken both our hearts. If ever an experience wrung the very water from my soul, this was it!

Reviews

[AprilRN1210]

This is such a tender, yet profound piece... I FEEL each word.. I feel each tear.. I feel the anguish.. oh my goodness.. I literally have chills right now.. I feel the depth at which you love this precious blessing.. It is pure, it is unconditional, and it is real.. This is my absolute favorite piece I have had the pleasure of reading on this site... You are truly talented, my friend... AMAZING!!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Now see many would say this was the hardest thing to write and admit But i beg to differ While I cannot read it without shedding a tear And cannot read it aloud writing it was easy it simply poured on the page

[AprilRN1210]

well, it poured brilliantly.. Thank you for sharing this with me.. I absolutely love it.. LOVE it.. not only do you have a wonderful talent, it seems you have a beautiful soul.. :)

[Tate Morgan]

I love my children But Tate holds a special place in my heart he and he alone went through my divorce with me and he alone saved my soul

[AprilRN1210]

I can feel that love shine through every tear soaked word sir and it touched me deeply.. I know you speak the truth.. You are blessed to have one another.. and I am blessed to have been able to read this breathtaking expression of that love..

[wordman]

a inspiring and heart felt write tate,i enjoyed the read..

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you it was one of my greatest laments. I guess i regret more than I like

[wordman]

we live and learn,can`t always be right!

[Tate Morgan]

how i know it

[B]

I know this feeling
Only i have a thought
Our kids learn to forgive
from our mistakes

Nonetheless its not ok to error but it is human
So long as our mistakes are not morbid

Our kids learn we are human
And they are angels
teaching us to be angels too

This is extremely special

The first poem that has truly touched me within

I am not a perfect mum
I know what you are feeling
and its ok

If anything it will strengthen your bond ..... and i am crying

[Tate Morgan]

Your tears are in good company it has long been my opinion that poetry is best when it is short sweet to the point and brutally honest I know what you feel it is our conscience that bothers us as we know we are imperfect to error is human to love divine

[B]

I think any father or mother that tells you they never been there is lying ,,,,,,,
I guess its how you deal with it

If you are honest with your son
Admit to your mistake
He will learn the value of honesty and do the same when he does a mistake
And he will learn you are not perfect and he will love you for that

We only truly learn to love others when we see their flaws and how they rise through them and from them

I apologize for writing so much

But you really moved me

[Tate Morgan]

Tate and I are long since past this he is 19 I am 55 we have always had a bond like no other and do so to this day

[B]

Well then you must be here to teach me in seeing a beautiful future with my son
Thank youread moreWell then you must be here to teach me in seeing a beautiful future with my son
Thank you
You gave me comfort without intending to do so

[Tate Morgan]

I raised him and his sister both the same never laid a hand on them save for this one verbal one that marked my soul for eternity

[B]

You are a great father :)

[Barbz]

A lifetime of loss and regret abated by a fathers Love, tenderness and consideration. The wounded amongst us, equipping our innocents with battle gear, changes who they are. I experienced this with my grandson, Tage. I insisted we come to our senses......Barbz

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Barbz I too have seen something similar with my granddaughter and so shared this with her family as well Thank You

[Tate Morgan]

A smart man learns from his mistakes while a wise man will learn from yours

[Barbz]

So true, Tate....I was so naive when I moved from New York City to Palos Verdes Estates, Calif, with 5 small children ( had 5 in 6 years).....they were all in the same school and I had to fill out packets of material for each. Fathers Name and Address...Mothers name and address....."ridiculous" I said....I thought, what a waste of paper and time!! My husband, 14 years older said, laughingly, Barb.....it's about Divorce........Believe me when I tell you...I had Never known anyone divorced......true story.....Today, however, I can tell you some tall stories. I am now widowed after better than 45 years...Barbara

[Tate Morgan]

THANK YOU BARBZ

[Jennie Baron]

I'm awestruck and moved by the raw emotion and hurt in this poem. It rings so true! Children are resilient, but I do admit similar events from my childhood still stay with me.

[Tate Morgan]

Jennie though most of my poems start as an idea that gels into a poem that takes me a day or two to write and another day or two to correct and find the rhyme.Such wasnt the case here as this wrote itself in 10 minutes and has not undergone any revision as it was simply transcribing my emotions in raw for to the event. I am deeply humbled by this event and response to it thank you.

[Jennie Baron]

You're very welcome. I'm glad you shared this one.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you I share my thoughts in raw form set to music and rhyme and rarely tapper them or change any facts Ugly or beautiful as they are

[C. Lee Battaglia]

This is a wonderful poem... You are truly gifted... This poem is strong in emotion. I really felt what you had gone threw. I look forward into buying your book.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you very much That is nice to hear

[Matching Socks]

Incredibly moving Tate...
We learn some tough lessons in life but we never want to hurt our children.
They get caught in the crossfire sometimes.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you I am not real happy with what I caused that night gladly it is all past now and he and I are ever so close But I will never forget this night.

[Geo Lawrence]

wow, so so so sad...rich words...lovely picture painted with high quality words

[Tate Morgan]

thank you for that It is not a thing I am proud of

[Geo Lawrence]

i understand your pain....the bad side divorce. you are welcome

[Tate Morgan]

thanks very much

[People Are Amazing]

Stunning. This is so powerful.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you it was with great regret I learned this lesson thank you

[Einstein Noodle]

a father of 4 myself .. this breaks my heart .. rips those wounds wide again .. its good to remember .. its good to gain wisdom .. we can be so stupid thinking our anger can in any way accomplish anything good .. to teach, admonish, implore our children to heed our wisdom .. don't do the things we know are not healthy .. i spoke so many times in anger and exasperation failing to stop and think .. to first hold them and say a prayer .. when i did do that .. it never failed to put things in a right perspective .. i am amazed to this day how i failed so many times to do that .. needless to say your poem (as they always do) has moved me deeply .. reminded me of whats important .. in a solidly constructed poem :)
E.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Einstein this poem is to this day on the simplest yet most moving to me It is hard to read it without shedding a tear over my failure in this instance. With my own son it seems every time i think he is outta line I find in the end he was raised fine i was the one out of line.

[Einstein Noodle]

yep .. true that bother! :}

[timthy]

In tears Tate! Your writing and the mood you create with the music...phenomenal...your heart and soul is evident in everything you write...absolutely brilliant!!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you this one i cannot read myself without tearing up It simply is too powerful on my emotions