The Abandoned Gate

The Abandoned Gate

Sometime ago
It swung freely
The latch closed with a snap
There was a purpose to it

It's been left unused for a while
Propped open with a rock
Grass has grown to form a garden
For an enterprising gopher's burrow underneath

Today the sun is out
And a lizard sits alertly on the rock
Until a crow briefly lands atop the gate
And hones her beak along its edge

The lizard scampers out of sight
The crow caws the alert of my approach
Spreads her wings and allows my passing through
My walking stick in hand

In worn out boots shuffling dust
I walk along the still earmarked road
Beads of sweat along my forehead
Toward a destination yet unknown