This Was My Gate

This was my gate with its welcoming bells,
this my slight entry home.

Here was my rosemary, lavender grown,
here the lilacs mauve stood.

Where the heart wanders, there knell the bells,
heart of the gone, never far.

This is the goose that guarded the gate to the place
known to me and warm these thirty years.

This the same goose Mama kept on her maple turned
table, along with another, a pair.

Now the gate latch is broken. Now the bells are gone.
Now the Mama's in heaven. Still,

The brass glows warm.

Comments: 16

DIANE D. Jun 3, 2008, 12:06am EDT

wonderful

reply to this comment

Human, Katherine, seeker of intergalactic life, inhabitant of Earth Jun 3, 2008, 12:12am EDT

Lovely way to end the day Lynn. There's nothing like the familiar to welcome one home, while this poem is short, it says volumes to me and soothes my tired mind and body.

reply to this comment

Lynn Doiron Jun 3, 2008, 12:15am EDT

Thank you, Diane and Kathy -- Appreciate your lovely thoughts.

reply to this comment

Wilma D. Jun 3, 2008, 1:21am EDT

Lovely tribute.

reply to this comment

Lavonne W. Jun 3, 2008, 1:43am EDT

I knew it must be a poem. Saw this post second to the picture post.

Good on you.

reply to this comment

Wanda H. Jun 3, 2008, 2:17am EDT

I felt like I was sitting under a willow tree, in the cool shade. And I love the last line, it is perfect.

reply to this comment

Becky Powell Jun 3, 2008, 8:31am EDT

The images really come alive in this. Makes me want to go outside and garden.

reply to this comment

Lynn Doiron Jun 3, 2008, 10:07am EDT

Thanks all. Am thinking about changing 'is broken' to 'breaks' -- any opinions?

reply to this comment

Nana to Seven Cutiepies Jun 3, 2008, 8:36pm EDT

This was beautiful.

reply to this comment

Nana to Seven Cutiepies Jun 3, 2008, 8:37pm EDT

I like it just the way it is. Broken fits perfectly.

reply to this comment

Kay M. Jun 3, 2008, 8:54pm EDT

I think broken works. It is lovely as is.

reply to this comment

Lynn Doiron Jun 3, 2008, 9:15pm EDT

thank you, thank you, thank you. will leave it at broken for now. appreciate your kindnesses. thanks.

reply to this comment

Human, Katherine, seeker of intergalactic life, inhabitant of Earth Jun 4, 2008, 12:05am EDT

Broken works for me too, and I have to admit something here....I didn't see or read the second part of the poem....call me blind or perhaps distracted....anyway...I'm glad I came back to reread your poem and comments....or I would not have seen the lovely reference to your mom and the brass goose.

reply to this comment

Lynn Doiron Jun 4, 2008, 12:25am EDT

You're not crazy, Katherine. I think you read and posted comment when I first published and at that point in time I hadn't put the other photo image up or added the second part of the poem. [I sometimes have problems with Gather and things disappear after a lot of work, so I publish before I'm totally done with the piece, just so I know that it's saved; also, it gives me an idea of how it appears once published.] So, you see -- you're not crazy at all! thanks for coming back, though. I'm glad you did.

reply to this comment

Human, Katherine, seeker of intergalactic life, inhabitant of Earth Jun 4, 2008, 2:00am EDT

Hahahahahahaha....well that makes me feel a whole lot better Lynn....still laughing

I'm glad you added the other picture and rest of poem...added more love, good hearted feelings to an already touching poem....at least in my humble opinion.

reply to this comment

Sarah Honenberger Jul 26, 2008, 7:49am EDT

Wanda, as ever, seems to catch the emotion exactly right from a reader's point of view. Lynn: another intricate connection to things remembered in such a fresh interplay of words.

reply to this comment

This Was My Gate

Comments: 16

Join the Conversation

You might also like

More by Lynn Doiron