Old Man Finn

Old man Finn

Out on the track that fateful day

I had just turned to train a mile

When old man Finn, asked where I'd been

could he tag along for awhile

"Of course" I said, he turned his mare

we set out for the quarter pole

The leisured mile, we made in style

a two forty clip was the goal

 

Reaching the quarter then the half

we were on track to make the grade

Three quarters down, I turned around

to see man being measured, weighed

Finn's mare was at a full gallop

bitten by a horse fly I'd thought

Over the rail, with Finn in trail

their fates tied to the lessons taught

 

He'd been thrown over the withers

came down hard on the limestone track

Finn was quite old, cut of the mold

of men who go forward not back

I pulled my horse up, turned around

hoping to help him if I could

Perhaps a stroke, his hip was broke

he lie gasping against the wood

 

We then took up a collection

to help the old man convalesce

Each of us knew, Finn's hopes were few

as this made of his life a mess

Kind and charmed I knew him to be

many strapping sons to his name

 Sadly those then, who knew him when

said life would never be the same

 

I had saved a little money

a sizable sum for a lad

As I was young, my life unsung

I had given them all I had

My father seemed a bit upset

"I can't believe you sometimes son

Hard as it is, in the horse biz

why give away all that you've won"

 

Each of us knew the hardships then

we shared part and parcel the same

But as a boy, I took no joy

in most truths of that deadly game

I ran my horse four days later

the Finn's drove in every race

My mare set back, end of the pack

that night circled the field in place

 

All of them laughed as I rode by

hell they might just as well have waved

Each of them smiled, faces beguiled

yet they were all so well behaved

That night his boys were good to me

I grinned as I knew I'd been played

 Cut of the core, that taught me more

from pioneer stock they were made

Author's Note

When I raced horses I met some of the most interesting souls. To them the family made up of fellow horsemen were a world unto themselves . In many ways they taught me most of the values I hold dear. We were racing the secondary circuit. No one seemed to have any money most of the time. The blow dealt the Finn family that day was so devastating I couldn't help but feel it. After that the Finns regularly schooled me. Each time I was in to race my own horse. However I have to say there was nothing like watching the Friday night fights in the paddock with Freddie and whomever stepped on his toes. The Finns were tough, kind and consoling. In short they were cut of the fiber that once tamed this country straight from pioneer stock!

Reviews

[lee von cleef]

Life gives, and gives, so does Tate,we can't all do all, but through writers like Tate,we can take a cart ride,be a friend to Finn, even love the man and world of hard work, morning pride , a elder asking to be by our side, Share Tate's poems
Read them aloud, Paget's too, teach your friends to "feel"again,I think they can, we can crack our worlds "Conscious Comma ".

[Tammy]

I absolutely love this!!! This 'Old Man Finn' was my grandfather!! And what you wrote about him is simply wonderful and very true!! Thank you!

[Tate Morgan]

Tammy you are welcome. I loved and respected the old man.

[Great Aunt Astri]

This reads very much like a ballad, with the narrative and conversation. We must not forget the pioneer stock! As a kid I used to love horses and cowboy films! I also like the music, but I had to wait until it endd before I could read te poem!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you astri I guess I have had a storied life

[Barbz]

I was caught up with emotion as I felt every word. Horses are my passion, although Sulkies were not our ride of choice....however the amazing humanity in this pice is to me overwhelming. Thank you for a very heartwarming and inciteful read.......Barbz

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Barbz He was a great man

[Jack Cassidy]

You have some serious writing chops... I don't know much about the sport of horseracing, but this poem contained so much depth it didn't matter. I loved the rhyming scheme as well... This is a well seasoned write...

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Kusa I raced horses for many years as my family have for 6 generations As a young man it is a lot of fun but more work. Thank you for the review .I wrote this in what i like to call the paget meter which i named after david lewis paget it is in his style both the rhyme and meter of it

[Jack Cassidy]

You're welcome and thanks for uncovering a part of yourself to me...

[Tate Morgan]

You are welcome all of my works are about my own experiences for the most part and very in depth to the truth of what i felt and experienced. If you are interested in the horse business i wrote quite a few about the racetrack my favorite of them was a tribute to elmer conrad called they dont make those men anymore http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/aristate/682747/

[Jack Cassidy]

Nice, I'll check it out...

[Lydia Shutter]

Thank you for sharing this slice of your life with us, Tate. What an interesting life you have led! This is such an exhilirating story. You told it with great rhythm and rhyme. No wonder you felt for the Finn family....you were part of their world. Great work. Lydi**

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Lidi i am glad it touched you

[Frieda P]

Sounds like one helluva a life style, no wonder you're a crazy cowboy! Was this before or after that fated accident? Good stuff here Tate.

[Tate Morgan]

i was a young man of 19 then and old man Finn probably 68 or better a hard 68. He was a tough dude but a heart of gold.

[Frieda P]

You inherited their crazy...I get it, sounds like you jammed packed a lot into your life...

[Tate Morgan]

There were many fated accidents over the years But as to the one in question this was before.

[realmwriter]

I cannot pretend to know what it is to race horses but I like to think that it is a most exilerating experiance for which I would love to have had the pleasure. But I get a glimps of it here and for that I owe you a thank you my friend for you have penned a very mindful tribute to those with whom you raced.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you it is alot like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyLXyqpjU2M

[realmwriter]

You're welcome Tate. I'll certainly take a look at the link. Which for some reason they don't work in the reviews. But it all good I will copy and paste.

[Tate Morgan]

you will like it it is fun

[realmwriter]

Of that I have no doubt

[Michael G. Smith]

You are a master storyteller, no doubt about it.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Michael humbly i digress

[Me]

This is such a brilliant and bold write

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you michael very much

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

This was highly intense and tragic to read! I am unclear as to whether Finn lived even with rereading in an attempt to find out? Then again, I am reading something new while tired, always a mistake. Anyhow. I can definitely identify with the pain of losing a mentor figure- even the fear of such a thing is terrifying!