Photo: Farm gate – found on Pinterest
“Men are not so much the keepers of herds as herds are the keepers of men.” Henry David Thoreau
The old Farm Gate
I leaned on the old gate as I was wont to do,
and it seemed a good thing,
the gate offered no objection
rather, a welcome to reflect as I
leaned and looked out at all that was before me,
in the dry of the day the rust
like barnacles clung to the wizened steel,
but some flaked and powdered
and I felt its roughness
a reminder of the many winters it has endured
since it was hung in less complicated times
when boundaries were respected and a
gate was merely a choice of
coming or going, to be in or out,
this gate might not make another hundred
but for now it has more stories to tell.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com
parallax 
And now we hear much talk of building walls.
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Yes, as if the one coming down in 89 wasn’t a reminder of how destructive they are, so sad.
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I like this very much. It reminds me of Robert Frost’s poetry.
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Who is one of my fave poets Liz, one of the first I remember from school days too.
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I really love your conversational form, this is truly a beautiful poem.
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I do enjoy that form most of all, thank you for your encouraging words.
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It’s definitely a favorite style of mine. Your poetry is amazing in any form.
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Thank you. I must say I do really enjoy your work, and that would be just one of the reasons.
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Lovely compliment, I thank you so much.
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My pleasure 🙂
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😊
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Love the photo and poem
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Thank you Cheryl
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Really like this one! It drew me in, stilled me, and I listened to its creaks, for more stories to be revealed…
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Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts Laura, much appreciated.
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Indeed. Lock that gate.
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Too right Tracey, far too many nutters coming by.
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Good morning! Thank you for your beautiful thoughts scattered among words! A wonderful day!
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Thank you so much for those encouraging words.
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Beautiful poem, Paul. It made me remember of my father’s wheelbarrow because it has stories to tell too.
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Yes, I get that, thank you Winnie.
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Lyrical & powerful ☝️👍
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Thank you so much Victoria, much appreciated 🙂
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Love the very metaphoric use of the gate. Best wishes, Michael
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Thank you very much Michael.
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You too, Paul!
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I really loved this poem it conjured up many fond memories and emotions
>
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I thought it might.
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Thank you
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Thank you
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