Fast Eddie

If there is one thing can be said of the Race Track it is "That here you will find men at odds with life. Yet a brotherhood of likeness abounds".

Photo compliments of Ben White.

At the track kitchen that morning

I was playing cards with some friends,

There sat Pop Sigh, we called Dead Eye

and Fats Jimmy, who drove the Benz

The fourth man was Wheel Chair Eddie

a boy of eighteen, I'd been told

In a wheel chair, his cross to bear

on each God had broken the mold

Fast Eddie as I called him

suffered from Cystic Fibrosis,

"Outta my way" he'd always say

"don't need no damn diagnosis"

Eddie was cleaning up on us

 took me for two hundred and three

He was the best, wiped out the rest

 taunting all of us with his spree

The others always let him brag

in pity for his condition

Well that might be, but they weren't me

I'm not given to submission

"Eddie, you're a gimp legged freak,"

I'd said giving his chest a tap

"Get off your butt, keep your mouth shut,"

"hey Morgan I don't take your crap"

He waved the money in my face

"you fish bite the same old hook"

"Man" he would say, "you're easy prey

you make it sound like I'm a crook"

"If you'd climb outta that wheelchair

I'd have to teach you some respect"

He'd laugh and jeer, but show no fear,

well now...just what did you expect

But Eddie had such little time 

whereby we all knew his plight

What might I see, if I were he

I'd welcome their taunts to fight

While others made him feel sorry

for the state that he found himself in

Still I could see, he's just like me

though at times I would let him win

I think that's why he'd favored me

 why he'd sought me out most the time

The reason he, played cards with me

in the hope I would drop a dime

I never looked on him as sick

to me he was one of the Klan

He knew I'd say, "Eddie let's play

come on we need another man"

Author's Note

What makes a man a man, respect of his fellows. No matter the infirmity, therein lies our humanity.

Reviews

[lee von cleef]

There is a horse with his name " Fast Eddie Charles" they are twins, Tates' words and that horse, Tates' words and that man are life, they deserve , if you whimper they will demand.
R E S P E C T . Look in their eyes ,they will measure you, they will know if you are deep or just ,top water shallow. That is a man, That is a horse, and you better be "Tied on" if you "Tie"
into either one.

[Michael G. Smith]

Another fantastic piece!! You had me laughin' and almost cryin', I said "almost". I was ready to throw down ten, but the I realized some one stolethe damn dice!! Another great tale from a master storyteller.

[Mark]

Not just a great personal philosophy, but a beautifully-executed example of Paget meter. Nice job, Tate.

[Carolann Dowsett]

This is fantastic it is good to always see the person behind the condition for our outside afflictions do not govern our hearts or who we really are. Beautifully written.

[Con O'Clast]

Good stuff. Funny, clever and sharp. Pleasure to read.

[Epipsychologist]

Tate, your poems always have something tender in them and your authors not always has something wise. I would say, in addition to your statement "always [see] the man behind the pain" we would do well to always assume there's pain behind the man.

[Becky C Strukamp]

As I read this it reminded me of a friend of mine, once a very close friend. He was stricken with MD. At first I felt sorry for him then realized he was just a man like any other man. I began addressing him as I would any man after that. Though he used his condition to win the hearts of many women this was one cookie that was not biting his plight. I so agree, a person values you more when you treat them as an equal and see that them as an equal.

Loved the story Tate. You are a wonderful story teller!

[Manpreet]

This one is a beautifull piece for the simple reason that it has all emotions what a friend could feel for a friend which is one of your many skills to express with great worduse and perfect flair. Thanks for sharing Tate.

[Rain]

I never even noticed the technical aspect of your Poem. I simply read it..and liked it. I'm easy. lol. People like Eddie are the most fascinating people to write about. Good job.

[Mauricio Montoya]

left me to ponder. Nice work.