»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #47
»
I'll Be Doing It Until I Die
| Open Poetry #47 |
|
I'll Be Doing It Until I Die |
|
|
JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America 
|
I came across an article a while back and felt obliged to put it in a poem . . . If you would like to read about this man and his dedication to a man he collided with on a football field go here. http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/twenty-years-ago-one-hit-changed-tw o-lives-forever/ Brad Gaines grabbed Clorox A bottle of glass cleaner Tossed them into the twenty-year-old Buick Cranked 'er up and took off Headed for a cemetery Been making the same trip For many years Despite the pleas of his wife and kids to stop I'll be doing it until I die the young man said. These trips started twenty years ago He makes the 175-mile trip To visit a friend he never really knew But a single play on a football field Fused them together As though they were brothers Gains, tailback for Vanderbilt Went after Chucky Mullins A safety for Mississippi Going high in the air for a pass Grimes caught him in the back And then rushed back to the Vanderbilt huddle Chucky never got back up Neck shattered Died two years later It's just football Nobody's fault Everybody agreed Even Grimes It's all part of the game, but it doesn't change the facts, you know . . . Three times a year Gaines drives from Nashville To Russelville, Alabama And to Chucky's grave simply marked Chucky, Man of Courage What drives Grimes To make this trip three times a year He says There have been times when I had to hitchhike Because I ran out of gas Had blown out tires Car broke down His wife and children And total strangers have worried about him Maybe the only one who can truly understand Is Mullins lying 'neath the ground Gaines, white kid from hoity-toity Vanderbilt Mullins, skinny black kid from nowhere town Gaines couldn't sleep after the accident No longer cared about the sport He grew upon Didn't even play his senior season He visited Mullins in the hospital It wasn't your fault Mullins told him. Mullins spirit was strong Walter Payton, Janet Jackson George Bush came to call Still Mullins was called to his spiritual home And Brad visits Plucks weeds, clean grime from the headstone Then sit down beside the grave Converses and prays Why? Because I love him To Grimes it is just that simple What will Grimes headstone read one day Man of Guilt Man of Craziness Man of Compassion Whatever it will be, somehow you just know Mullins will be glad to clean it ~ Clones are people two ~ [This message has been edited by JerryPat (01-21-2011 09:28 AM).] |
||
| © Copyright 2011 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
I love how you seem to pick tid bits of information out of the air and bring them back to life. This was a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing. Lori |
||
|
JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
ah, this story kinda re-birthed the idea that there are still some unselfish and truly caring people in this world. Thanks Lori. ~ Life is sexually transmitted ~ |
||
|
faithmairee Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441Poe Haven, USA |
a very moving and finely penned poem...love it, JerryPat! Faith There must be a poem in here somewhere. |
||
|
JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Thank you is all I can say, Faith, and I know that saying it over and over can sometimes diminish the passion behind my words, just know that the passion for writing, you reading, me reading your poetry is a wonderful experience to me. ~ Life is sexually transmitted ~ |
||
|
OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
I love the poem, Jerry. I accept that the general public doesn’t understand why Gaines makes these special pilgrimages – but what I don’t understand is why they don’t understand. It seems so incredibly easy to understand. I don’t believe he felt guilty at all. He certainly understood mentally that he wasn’t, but I believe he accepted it completely emotionally and spiritually too. Neither do I believe he is crazy. I think that it is as simple as the fact that he cared – and yes, that makes him a Man of Compassion. Whilst I am sorry for the accident and the ensuing tragic events, and whilst I see sad elements in the poem and the story, I think this is a poem and a story of victory, bonding, love, compassion, kindness, and ubuntu (which is a Zulu word pronounced more or less ooBOONtoo) which translates very loosely as true humanity. I am enriched, as I am sure all your readers are, by this experience, and my faith in humanity is enhanced and encouraged by it. Thank you for the experience. Owl |
||
|
nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
"Maybe the only one who can truly understand Is Mullins lying 'neath the ground" well said~~ M |
||
|
XGarapanX Senior Member
since 2008-06-19
Posts 1435Antarctica |
Amazing writing. ·´~`·»Garapan«·´~`· "Look! Crumbs on his jacketses... Heeee took it!" |
||
|
JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
thanks ~ Life is sexually transmitted ~ |
||
|
JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
No, I don't think the guy felt guilty, Owl, but still . . . he was the instrument which laid Mullins out. I can understand his remorse. <><><> Thank you, nakdthoughts. ~ Life is sexually transmitted ~ |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
