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.

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Tate,

A soft tone to this one. The words are gentle with a touch of sadness and reflectiveness. As always wonderful sentiments. Pervasive romanticism and freely flowing love.

Very best regards,

Rick

[Amila Jay]

Some true words there, really this is beautiful:-)

[The Analog Kid]

Adversity makes us stronger and life long friends will remember us. Nice sentiments.

[Poeticpiers]

Friendship in times of adversity are the true measure of a man Tate
Fair weather friends disappear like sow in sunshine
But real friends stick around to lend a hand

[patricia]

Knowing quite a lot about destitution I could really relate to this poem and your authors note (which as always is extra special) I loved the way you said you dont measure a person by their station in life, and I can tell you are genuine about that. Thankyou.

[An owl on the moon]

This is such a beautiful, lifting write that moves over the heart like music... The song of life is rich and deep, though too many live in the shallows... Help us find that place of profound inspiration, my friend.

[J Todd Underhill]

Profound write, I often ponder what my friends family and aquaintances will say about me when I am gone, I hope of course the will only remember the good things, but somehow I always see the bad in myself. It must be human nature!

[Dayran]

Its thoughts like these in every child that makes him go higher on the swing, climb the highest mountain and build the tallest skyscrapers. It encourages us to go further. Thank you for an excellent poem.

[SoulCrusader (Yas)]

Exceptional write as always...
terrific :)

[Frantzuu]

A great poem as always.