Terry Flood Poet Rhyme

The Old Rusty Gate

The old rusty gate hasn’t opened of late
Nor has it for so many years
The padlocks are seized and it’s overgrown state
Compounds our irrational fears

For when there’s a moon that is three quarters full
And the breeze makes the leaning oak moan
The gate remains closed but nobody can tell
What causes its hinges to groan

Tis said it’s a hundred years on from the day
That a lass countered her suitor’s plan
    ‘I’m not gonna do that, young man, young man
    I’m not gonna do that, young man’

And the gate started creaking although it was locked
And my family’s torment began
     ‘You won’t take my virtue, young man, young man
     You won’t take my virtue, young man’

Tis told that a vagrant had witnessed the deed
And the lass should have shut up and ran
     ‘I’m gonna tell Daddy, young man, young man
     I’m gonna tell Daddy, young man’

The man took her virtue then throttled her there
Her body was quickly dissected
He crossed himself once as he padlocked the gate
The vicar’s son quickly suspected

Such ancestral shame and a dishonoured name
My guilt is a family trait
To find out the truth is the reason I came
So I reach for that old rusty gate

A brisk breeze this night, three quarter moonlight
A young girl ethereal white 
     ‘I wouldn’t go that way, young man, young man
     I wouldn’t go that way, young man’

     ‘No blame can there be for what happened to me
     You were not there to see nor agree
     But please place a stone with my name, Sarah Lee
     Under that old leaning tree.’

The oak ceased its moaning, the hinges stopped groaning
She vanished but left me a plan
     ‘Go live your life freely, young man, young man
     Go live your life freely, young man’



24 June 2022
Contest: One In Five
Sponsor: Joseph May

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Paula Goldsmith July 12, 2022 at 8:19 AM Congratulations on your win. WOW!!! What a write/story. Have a great/blessed day................ Terry Flood July 12, 2022 at 11:38 AM Glad you enjoyed, Paula. Terry

Christuraj Alex July 11, 2022 at 8:12 PM A vivid illustration with plenty of figures of speech. Congratulations! Terry Flood July 12, 2022 at 11:37 AM Thanks, Christuraj. Terry

Ann Peck July 11, 2022 at 3:40 PM Congratulations, Terry! What an interesting tale your poem is. And, all she needed was some recognition. I've read spirits do come back if they don't feel their memory is being treated fairly. Terry Flood July 11, 2022 at 3:48 PM Thank you, Anne. It’s rare that I start a poem not knowing where I would take it, but this was one. I’m glad it worked for you. Terry

Joseph May July 11, 2022 at 12:39 PM I enjoyed this haunting story Terry, Congrats on your win Terry Flood July 11, 2022 at 12:40 PM Thankyou, Joseph. And thanks for my placement. Terry

Deb M June 24, 2022 at 4:51 PM Brilliant Terry…..a captivating poem/story I didn’t want to end! Debx Terry Flood June 24, 2022 at 5:17 PM Thanks, Deb. I’m glad you enjoyed. Terry

David Mchattie June 24, 2022 at 1:59 PM Nicely done 'rhymin Simon.' A real treat. Stay well my friend.

Ilene Bauer June 23, 2022 at 4:19 PM what a well-told story, terry! you had me totally under your spell from the very first verse... Terry Flood June 23, 2022 at 4:27 PM Thank you, Ilene. To be honest, when I wrote the first stanza I wasn’t sure if I would get enough stanzas out of it. Ultimately, I ended up with so many stanzas I wasn’t sure anyone would read it. So thank you for that. I surprised myself that it moved from a scare story to a tale of personal liberation. Clearly, the human brain sometimes has no idea of where it’s going. Thanks again. Terry