The Hidden Gates

A shimmer of light beyond the dawn,

Kept beckoning me towards a place.

I crossed many pastures and fields of flowers,

Through high pine trees with heart ablaze.

“Who was calling me?” I wondered and laughed at the wind,

I racked my brains to remember the path I had never seen.

What was this puzzle I could not solve?

It followed rules which never resolved.

A land of enigma with mysteries abound,

I took a deep breath and ventured far beyond.

I found this beautiful and serene town,

Where birds did sing and cows did moo

With a resonant calling I never knew before.

And there I saw the Pearly gates,

Which had to be reached via the steps.

My heart beat louder, my senses strong,

As I stepped on the curious path ahead.

A sudden gush of wind, followed by a spray of dust,

Made me stumble and drop on one knee.

A distant rumble of voice I heard,

Which spoke to me in words of men.

“Thou shall not cross this path ahead,

You are not complete as God had willed.”

With a gasp of anguish and profound sorrow,

Tears flowed aplenty from my eyes.

I did not know what the angel spoke of,

And she asked me to think what was amiss.

It was neither prestige nor rich wealth,

Nor a healthy life or a dreamy spell.

As I cleared my mind and thought this through,

I finally found what was missed.

The cornerstone of life that had passed me by,

Which reminded me of love unknown.

With a pleading voice, I moaned to the angel,

“Who would love this lonely man?

One that always stood apart from the crowd.

He was not quick of wit, nor easy to please,

With interests that made him an uneasy fit.”

I braced myself to face the worst,

And sought to turn my back on her.

I suddenly felt a presence nearby,

Which tugged at my heart and soul.

There she was, my only love,

Who smiled at me and held my hand.

I cried with joy and shed happy tears,

To find her back with me again.

I found the courage which I had never,

To ask her hand as I had planned forever.

“I do,” said her lovely voice,

And I never felt so fortunate in my life.

The angel’s voice boomed aloud,

“Ye, the mortal who found his love,

I am happy for your future now.

The Gates are open and you may enter,

Treasure her forever, that you may lose her never.”