Beware The Gate Ahead
“Hey, look there Jim” the young girl said
“What is this old gate up ahead?
Now do you think we should go through.
I’m really game if you will too.”
We’ll have to clear these sticks away
and find the latch - what’s that you say?
You don’t think we should touch the gate?
What lies beyond might not be great?
Oh, come on Jim, don’t be a wuss
Rid this Gossamer with one push.
Then once we’re through, we’ll walk the road
it’s just your mind in overload.’
And as they heaved the gate it fell
releasing then the Ghostly spell.
A spell held bound until the day
this gate was opened by its prey.
But these two children did not see
Grave danger, when innocently,
stepped through that Godforsaken gate
and with this action sealed their fate.
At first, they heard a Groaning sound
and swirling winds whipped all around,
Then both were lifted oh so high
and drawn so quickly through the sky.
And with a thud they were set down
Inside a castle, dark and brown.
Grief-stricken, cold, and full of fear,
“Jim, what has happened? now we’re here”.
A voice they heard a cackle low
the witch appeared to let them know,
they’d live with her forever more
not going back to life before.
(1)
“Your days will now be one of toil
you’ll cook and scrub, the cauldron boil.
Oh, how I’ve waited for this day
For foolish kids to come my way.”
The girl said “Jim I should have heard
the warning in your spoken word:
don’t touch that gate, just let it be
I wish I’d listened to your plea.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, then fell
upon the witch, and broke her spell,
for witches cannot deal with tears
if splashed with one, their spell will clear.
And with a woosh away they went
back to the place were quickly sent,
behind that gate upon the ground
They both stood up, and looked around.
“Where have we been? I can’t recall
but know that gate must never fall,
So quickly we must go away
I’ll not go through it; on this day.”
So, if you see a gate ahead
Be careful now before you tread.
Take care with life, and gates you fell
don’t end up in the witch’s spell.
Copyright © Christine Watts | Year Posted 2025
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