Fond Memory of the Years

Mike Clevenger

What will they say when we are gone

to tell of the days we have known

May they never measure our worth

by our  life’s failure, to have grown

 

Pray they say that kindness was found

in a world surrounded by pain

That we had given more than took

trying our best, to not be vain

 

I wish my friends to know of me

that I see them as a treasure

The pains of our lives that we share

are the jewels, by which I measure

 

When winters cold seems to descend

from the North Winds that blow a gale

Take heart that you are not alone

then may love, lift and fill your sail

 

When the sands of life all run out

should you pass on before I go

This world will know you had a friend

as over you, my tears will flow

 

Tate

Author's Note

To all who have known the trials of a life beset with tribulation. I would just like to say the things that make life worth living are not to be found in pursuit of wealth. I never remembered anyone fondly for the station they held in life. True wealth for me is held within the hearts of those I have loved and who dared to love me. When I first wrote this piece it lacked an owner, as I waited for the one who might deserve it. Such was the case when my friend passed into memory. Mike died on my wedding anniversary February 13th 2013.
When my house caught fire Mike helped me rebuild it. He was my neighbor. Last week I buried my truck in a ditch. He came over with his tractor and pulled me home. Many times we set outside and cooked on the grill laughed and shared the stories of our painted lives. He was siding his home this summer. However he only finished half of it. So little Tate and I will help Matt his son and Matt Jr finish what my friend could not. I would just say that he left many loved ones behind. Three grandchildren in particular that adored him and a good friend, who counts him above all the rest. I dont know what Mike believed in the way of religeon. I couldn't think of any more fitting music for this piece than Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. That because Mike loved country music and was to me at least the iconic representation of Rooster Cogburn. His was the rough exterior of a man with a heart of gold. He was simply one of the finest men I ever knew, cut from the cloth of
True Grit!

Tate

Reviews

[Rikkevi Rue]

Hey Buddy, why is it that i always feel like somebody reached out and wrapped something around me when I read your poems? As if words transcend the physical universe and permeate right through my computer screen and touch me. I half way don't want to come to your page because i know i will read some new verse of yours that is so sentient, so darned real that it will barge right into my inner world and stir up a bunch of emotion and thoughts. Can't you just stay on your OWN side of the country Morgan!

Of course the poem is of high quality craft and of course the topic is contemporarily salient and of course you as usual have correctly judged your audience and of course you have evoked a major response and of course...

Why the hell do these simple, earnest voicings of yours always keep me coming back here...funny how those musings that come straight from the heart can penetrate right through any barrier whether distance, ethnic differences, educational discrepancies, geographical perspective, etc etc...

The warrior raises his sword and the poet slays him with his pen ;-)

[Tate Morgan]

To this day and through some 20,000 reviews or so I still feel this to be the most endearing I have ever received. I tip my hat to you sir in deference to your kindness.

[.]

what more could we ask for ..your sentimental soul will live not just in the hearts of those who knew you..but in your words

[roarke]

there's a huge canvas here. As I've said before you are going to have to start compiling your author's notes, they are whole separate pieces from the poem and just as meaningful. this is the kind of piece that invokes so many relatable stories in everyone who reads it. Again, it speaks volumes. I think this poem like many of your works is a clarion call to celebrate, take time to look at the whole picture and understand it for all the good that's held there.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Tate another tear shed by me! This was beautifully written. the words in your poem are so true, and i hope i can live a life as your poem speaks. Excellent poem! P.S. the song was a great choice to match your words!

[Dane Osborne]

Tate....this was great it really sincerly was. This is actually my favorite of yours so far. I enjoyed the subtle alliteration and the abab ryhme scheme was perfectly pulled off. It is actually very tricky for people to pull off ryhme schemes and that is why they so often come off as awkward but this was not the case with this piece.

I enjoyed the message of the poem itself. The way that good intermingles with bad within existence and our resulting struggle is the great theme that every real writer has to deal with (atleast in my humble opinion). I deal with that theme in my work constantly (fiction and poetry alike).

This was a smart and well thought out piece, well done.

[?]

That was truly amazing. I agree true wealth is held in our hearts...excellent
And you my friend truly write from within your heart...these types of writings speak so much volume...speak to the hearts of others.
If only everyone gave more than they took...show more kindness...never measured or judged someone by their failures...(if only)

Take heart in that you are not alone then may love lift and fill your sail

May you always have and keep that kindness and love with in your heart and continue to let it overflow into your writings.
Beautiful

[MichelleClay]

wonderful write tate. your words are inspiring and heart felt x

[BrynnaW.]

That was truly beautifully written and one of your masterpieces. It was a great read and I am impressed with your ability to write poems like this. You really touch hearts with your poems. A wonderful job and an entertaining read! Well done and keep on writing!