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Open Poetry #24
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Beyond Fate's Gate (MY 8000th)
| Open Poetry #24 |
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Beyond Fate's Gate (MY 8000th) |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA 
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My hands rest softly upon the gate, hinges oiled heavily by sweat, by tears. Rust flaking and falling into small brown crusty piles at my feet. Swirling winds bring a torrent of leaves, a briskness that brings a chill, a whistling sound calls from barren limbs of oaken hue. Winter lies beyond the door of a lighted house, a cottage beyond the gate. Shall I open this gate, perhaps knock on the wooden door, where light creeps through a small wisp of a crack...Enough for a wish to come into and fall upon a page... Inside, barely discernable against the darkness beyond a fireplace...flickering lights dancing on walls, walls covered with countless framed pictures, memorabilia, nostalgia....the blood, sweat and years of a man’s energies.. The form of an elderly man, tall yet stooped in posture, balding, wisps of gray hair casually astray. Writing on a single page...Enwrapped in the moment, staring into the distance as though in a trance.. Wanting to see, I walk a long and creaking porch, past a swing of yesteryear. One where many dreams must have been dreamt, eventually lived. Looking through a weathered pane, I notice a familiar smile, one of another year. Behind him, within the glow of a fire crackling, a single framed picture of a woman whose face, though distant, captivated me, my stare would not release from the picture. Suddenly, as a chill swept over me, I knew... For this was his wife...and that man...that stooped man, writing diligently his soul.. Could only be...and was... Me! |
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| © Copyright 2003 Barry J. Tackett - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
With many grand miles more to go before you settle into that swing... This is wonderful, P.I.... Congrats on your last 8 grand...  |
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ThisDiamond Member Rara Avis
since 2002-02-22
Posts 9353Michigan, USA |
Sensational!! Speechless my friend...doesn't happen often. Smiles from ThisDiamond |
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garysgirl 
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Barry, this is breathtaking. I'm not being dramatic, but I was actually holding my breath at the end of this. I'm serious, I thought it was going to be you and then, it was....... Goodness, you're a good writer. Congratulations on your 8000th post, too. I feel honored to be the one of the first ones to congratulate such a talented poet. Thank you for the joy your poetry has brought to me.  Thank you...........  "Love makes the world go around" ~~with love and hugs from Ethel~~ [This message has been edited by garysgirl (01-13-2003 09:33 PM).] |
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Nightshade
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
Magnus, dear poet-friend, congratulations on your 8000th post!! Might I add that this one is a  Wonderful. hugs, Chris"Hope" is the thing with feathers- |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Okay P.I., you've done it with this one!!!!! Sensational, and congratulations on the 8000 posts! ~Hugs & Smiles, Nancy~ ~Time has cast a spell on you, |
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scorpio Member Ascendant
since 2002-10-02
Posts 5178right...there |
Congrats on 8000 posts Barry..well done...I hope to read many more!!!  believe in what your heart feels... |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
To see yourself, so clearly... means your muse is pleased... Well done, Magnum, er, Magnus... Well done. Congrats! |
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angelfriend Member
since 2003-01-11
Posts 52Michigan USA |
Congratulations and great poem to mark the occasion. As I read it again it reminded me a bit of "A Christmas Carol" where Scrooge sees himself in past, present and future. Looking through the windows at himself through new eyes. May you always have a clear vision of who you were, who you are and who you are to become. "The only gift is a portion of thyself" - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Magnus
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135South Carolina, USA |
Thanx to each of you, all of you are my inspiration...and without it, I would just be someone without a lot of personal satisfaction from something that I totally and thoroughly enjoy... Magnum/Magnus..P.I. |
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Elan Member
since 2002-05-03
Posts 382State of Wide Eye |
Magnus... I'm so proud of your accomplishments! |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
Beautiful beautiful writing! I'm so glad you opened the gate and knocked upon the door... Thank you for coloring these blue pages with your poetry and sharing a part of your story. Congratulations to you Barry~ |
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regards2you Member Elite
since 2002-10-01
Posts 3940California |
Barry, Congrats! I love this poem. It is special. And, I thank you for among all the replies and poems you've written some of the replies were to me, ever encouraging, kindly, compassionate, ever a perfect, gentle man. Thank you for being who you are and sharing your wonderful talent with all of us. Hugs, Pat  ..without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.. |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Barry...A wonderful poem to celebrate your 8,000 post, Congratulations my friend. This was a pleasure to read...Paul Shall I open this gate, perhaps knock on the wooden door, where light creeps through a small wisp of a crack...Enough for a wish to come into and fall upon a page... A look into your furure, longing to know, but afraid to look. "To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you" |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
Congrats on your 8000th! I'll never get there...not for a few years anyhow. Love the write! Absolutely grand! |
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CSKpoet Senior Member
since 2002-07-12
Posts 845Island in Paradise |
congrats on an amazing 8000 posts This was superb and reminded me of a Christmas tale in taking a look outside yourself...Wonderfully penned, my friend! Can you rub some of that magic onto my muse? aloha, Cher Poetry is: |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Magnus Congrats you old reprobate, enjoyed. |
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Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space |
Congrats on 8000 and with posts like these I'm not the first to say but I hope there indeed will be another 8000 and hopefully more |
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
Barry - congratulations on the 8,000. You do write well my friend... BC |
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NewEnglandlazurlu Member Rara Avis
since 2002-01-04
Posts 7470A Mountain Paradise |
 Barry, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 8,000 POSTS It is always a pleasure to read your poems. What I love about you as a writer is your diversity. You never seem 'stuck' with the same theme. Blessings and hugs to you my friend, Marti |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
This is an exquisite piece of writing, Magnus, breathtaking, indeed! Congratulations on 8,000! |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
  (big hugggsssssssss) Oh my gosh, now I am flooding in tears, this is marvelous and I only long ever so much for such a picture to be on my mantelpiece which I can gaze at every long winter day and feel the flame of eternity inside me where now there are cobwebs and curfews and eight-legged rats! (sigh) Congratulations on 8000, sweet friend, I LOVE IT, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Barry, thank you for sharing!   May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton "Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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Sandpiper Senior Member
since 2002-06-15
Posts 738land of flora and fauna |
a "soul write"--and quite beautiful!! "And it was at that age...Poetry arrived in search of me...And something started in my soul." |
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kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
Magnus, hmm, your ending caught me by surprise....very good twist (at least to me) that ties up the earlier stanzas rather nicely congrats on your 8000th post! |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
An outstanding write Magnus. I loved the twist at the end. Congrats on 8000. Maree |
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christian Member
since 2002-12-18
Posts 331 |
honestly, it took a lot out of me to read to the end. a tad bit long for my taste, but i'm glad i read to the finish because, like everyone else, the end stirred it up for me. congrats. |
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ShadowRider Senior Member
since 2001-07-14
Posts 1038USA |
Barry, a warm congratulations on your 8K! You have me thinking with your poem about how we know so little of ourselves, until we are shown the value to the world by those closest to us. You said that soooo well, amigo, and it was truly a memorable post on a special occas. Many more, Barry... jkf |
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Salty Senior Member
since 2002-11-23
Posts 669Texas |
most intriguing....this story keeps you captivated to the very last word. An excellent 8--- marker you just left here. ~Salty |
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Suetang Member Ascendant
since 2001-03-07
Posts 5187Melbourne, Australia |
Hello Barry Your words have always inspired me and so often leave me in awe. Your talent is second to none and this piece of writing is an absolute masterpiece. May you continue to grace each of us with your wonderful words and congratulations on your 8000th post, a marvellous achievement. Take care.....Sue I am in motion |
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