They Don't Make Those Men Anymore

They Don't Make Those Men Anymore

A Poem by Tate Morgan
"

He treated me as if his own and for that I honor him too by eighty four, he had done more than any man I had ever knew

"
Elmer Conrad

The day started as many do

I ran up the hill of the grounds

I'd leapt from bed, in fear and dread

that I would be late to the Downs

We had so many horses then

thirty one as I now recall

Only two men, to jog back then

 rushed to finish before the squall


 

We had six horses in that night

each hurried to finish in time

We'd bathed them all, cleaned each ones stall

life was hard back then in my prime

The rain was roiling from the west

black clouds had portended a storm

All were ready, stout and steady

for us this was just the norm


 

On that night between the races

I spoke with an old friend of mine

His the mystique, the most unique

of any horsemen you could find

His dad named him Elmer Conrad

he was a product of the old school

At eighty four, or maybe more

this young man thought he was so cool


 

As the oldest racing driver

I must admit he held great sway

In him I'd found, a lonesome sound

as he'd outlived all from his day

One night Elmer was in a wreck

his temper puffed a powder keg

There on the ground, a cracking sound

he lay picking bones from his leg


 

But this night he drove his rig home

it was late and the roads were wet

He'd had bad luck, and wrecked the truck

I'm sure he blew it off, "no sweat"

That was the last I saw of him

someone thought him too old to drive

With no great ease, took Elmer's keys

and with that his desire to thrive



Elmer hung himself in the barn

beside the home family owned

Looking back now, I wonder how

any of us could have atoned 

 Next day I heard my hero died

where-bye we'd lost a man so great

Scrawled on a note, that he had wrote

"I am the Master of my Fate"

 


He treated me as if his own

and for that I honor him too

By eighty four, he had done more

than any man I had ever knew

He was the last great gentleman

I had known of four and four score

There died our best, eternal rest

they don't make those men anymore


© 2022 Tate Morgan


Author's Note

Tate Morgan
Men like Elmer led their lives by a code unlike the average man. Elmer Conrad was such a part of the track his was the template from which we were all created. He was the constitution and conscience of us all. The old ones respected him. But I admired him. The secrets he had learned followed him to the grave, as did our feelings and admiration for his spirit. As a young man I felt a little poorer for the loss of such a spirit. He had been the guest on the Carson show the year before as the oldest living driver. I remember watching him and thinking he is so cool!
I am not one who believes that finishing third is winning. I think we do our children a disservice by awarding them trophies for participation. It is the truth of life that excellence is the key to success. Life is meant to be hard. I use to look at Elmer and knew from the tip of his hat to me that he approved. He watched me work night and day. He saw with what deference I paid homage to my own father and in me I hoped he had found something of himself and the times that led to the man I so admired. He was one of a kind.
May God Rest His Soul

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Featured Review

Holy moley. Jeewhizz. Jaw dropping. This poem is like being hit by giant hammer through a pillow. It took my breath away. The imagery, the sense of nostalgia. This is so far my fav Tate Morgan work. It's inspiring in its briliance. You should be out there, Tate. Your works touches people and...well...you should be on the cover of TIME. Great. Really great.

Posted 10 Years Ago


2 of 2 people found this review constructive.

Tate Morgan

10 Years Ago

thank you rooster



Reviews

You seem to have an amazing talent at not only telling a story, but to convey a life lesson within it--- make you feel as if you are there... touching the heart with the memories, the emotions, the fears, the love, the feelings you masterfully express.. I feel the respect, the admiration, the love, the loss, the shame, the pain... it is evolutionary as the piece takes me on the journey of that exposure, and life that so deeply touched yours... another awesome write, Tate...

Posted 9 Years Ago


Tate Morgan

9 Years Ago

Thanks April many of the characters that populated my life are remembered in my writing. This one wa.. read more
AprilRN1210

9 Years Ago

yes, I am sure of it.. and such beautiful tributes they are my friend...
This is a beautiful poem keep them coming

Posted 9 Years Ago


Tate Morgan

9 Years Ago

thank you dear
melissa

9 Years Ago

Your welcome
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WE
A beautiful tribute indeed

Posted 9 Years Ago


Tate Morgan

9 Years Ago

thank you very much for reading my work
A wonderful and loving tribute.

Posted 10 Years Ago


Tate Morgan

10 Years Ago

Thank you I thought him a great man
Holy moley. Jeewhizz. Jaw dropping. This poem is like being hit by giant hammer through a pillow. It took my breath away. The imagery, the sense of nostalgia. This is so far my fav Tate Morgan work. It's inspiring in its briliance. You should be out there, Tate. Your works touches people and...well...you should be on the cover of TIME. Great. Really great.

Posted 10 Years Ago


2 of 2 people found this review constructive.

Tate Morgan

10 Years Ago

thank you rooster
This is such a beautiful tribute to what must have been a very beautiful man. Strong of character and more. Thank you for sharing this with me Tate. There is no telling of the values and information we learn from listening to our elders. I too have known a few Great characters in my lifetime. The world sure is at loss for losing them.

Posted 10 Years Ago


Tate Morgan

10 Years Ago

Mysty Thank you so much i am, sure Elmer would say this was a tribute too many But he was a good man.. read more
Moved beyond words.. by the story

Posted 10 Years Ago


Tate Morgan

10 Years Ago

Thank you very much
You conveyed Elmer's spirit and his ideals so that I feel like I can understand him and how special he was, even though it's not firsthand. It's wonderful that he was such a remarkable man and his legacy hasn't been forgotten!

Posted 10 Years Ago


Tate Morgan

10 Years Ago

Thank you I did not know what you meant about it not being first hand as he and I were best friends.
Blue Moon Ice Cream

10 Years Ago

Sorry, I meant that I never knew him myself, so I can never truly know what an inspiring person he w.. read more
Tate Morgan

10 Years Ago

He was just so unique and genuine .I miss him

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10011 Views
89 Reviews
Shelved in 3 Libraries
Added on March 23, 2013
Last Updated on November 20, 2022
Tags: poetry

Author

Tate Morgan
Tate Morgan

Marion , OH



About
Available from Amazon XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I am a product of the Midwest. Raised on the plain states of North America. I was nurtured on a .. more..

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