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.

[Emerald Seas]

The body is just a vessel. To see a person, really see them, and accept them... that is what we should all strive to do in our interactions and relationships. Great writing, Tate.

[marytownsend]

Looking beyond someone's pain and physical condition to the person beneath it all is the ultimate expression of respect! I enjoyed reading this poem, great writing!

[MOON]

Lovely emotional write , lyrical we need to see heart and soul raather then just the physical.

[The Scholar]

Love this poem. Had me laughing a bit at the witty repartee, but, as usual, you managed to convey a wonderful insight into life.
Always a pleasure.

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

Hi Tate ! I have to say, again you have written such a heartfelt poem.. love the title .. the message too .. enjoyed!

[Foxemerald]

Interesting take on a person with a nice tone that matches the person. I like the humble connection with this personality; it certainly becomes apparent that you knew him really well.

[Emrick]

Funny and interesting.
(Yea ,you are right.Respect is what makes a man.Where i live all disable people are very harsh and rude.I think the reason they are like that is because people dont respect them,people dont show them love and make them feel like they do belong in the community. .


pitying them, in my opinion its not the right thing coz you will be making them feel really weak.I like the idea that you taunt eddie. that way i belive a disable person will feel free and will be able to share jokes.

Nice poem Mr.Tate.
Peace.

[eatmills]

It just sounds like the way good friends treat each other. Playful banter. Nice write you've really done well with the Paget Meter.

[Dean]

It is all impressive, to be sure. How it ranks is too much for me to say with one brief
immersion. Your talent and dedication makes much demand upon me--too much for an initial assessment. But you must concentrate, I think on your own work here. Save Mr. Paget an essay---or a book! devoted just to him. Sounds like a big project, but you are
obviously up for it.