Garden Gate

Today I passed your garden gate ,
It rattled to and fro .
I don't remember it this way ,
The gate I used to know .

Today I touched your garden gate ,
The crumbling wood and rust .
How could I replace them now ,
Its pieces turned to dust ?

Today I breached your garden gate
As I had done before .
I wondered if you might be there ,
Tilling earth once more .

Today I closed your garden gate
Behind me once again .
I walked along your garden path
The way I did back then .

Today beyond your garden gate
Where I shall wait for now ;
They say you won't , but I just know ,
You must return somehow .

Today beyond your garden gate
Where I've shed many tears ;
They all expect to see me there ,
The place I've come for years .

Today beyond your garden gate
I felt you there somehow .
Twas then I came , at last to peace .
A place unknown till now .

For just beyond your garden gate
My destiny was cast .
A place from where no man returns .
I found you there at last .

GREENWOLFE 1962