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"The Bars of Fate" A Poem by Ellen M.H. Gates

I stood before the bars of Fate
And bowed my head disconsolate;
So high they seemed, so fierce their frown,
I thought no hand could break them down.

Beyond them I could hear the songs
Of valiant men who marched in throngs;
And joyful women, fair and free,
Looked back and waved their hands to me.

I did not cry "Too late! too late!"
Or strive to rise, or rail at Fate,
Or pray to God. My coward heart
Contented, played its foolish part.

So still I sat, the tireless bee
Sped o'er my head, with scorn for me,
And birds who build their nest in air
Beheld me, as I were not there.

From twig to twig, before my face,
The spiders wove their curious lace,
As they a curtain fine would see
Between the hindering bars and me.

Then, sudden change! I heard the call
Of wind and wave and waterfall;
From heaven above and earth below
A clear command - "ARISE AND GO!"

I upward sprang in all my strength,
And stretched my eager hands at length
To break the bars--no bars were there;
My fingers fell through empty air!

Ellen M.H.Gates.


Wow, what a great poem!

Am I the only one who thinks too much?


So many hurdles - only, in my mind
Have set me back so many times.
So many difficulties, I've let come
Instead of trusting: " His will be done".
Thom

For in scripture it says: "See I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame"
1 Peter 2:6

Note to self: ARISE AND GO !!!!!

Comments

Kevin Rogers said…
Hi Thom
Great to meet you and Laura today at the wedding. Don't forget to come for that five cent tour on Drouillard Road. You can see my blog 'The Orphan Age' at http://revkevinrogers.blogspot.com
August 8, 2009 at 4:47 PM
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