I came to the gate, it was very late.
The flower was in my hand.
So beautiful and bright, it gave off a light,
but then came his reprimand.
“What is it you bring? What is that thing?
It’s a total waste of effort.
There’s no reason why. It’s going to die.
You always make my head hurt.”
There he stood, as I knew he would,
the guardian of the great gate.
He always thought, the things that I brought,
were subject to a debate.
“Listen you, all I want to do,
is put it in that small room.
So what’s the big deal. Why make me appeal?
Its beauty will brighten this gloom.”
“You speak as a fool. Go back to school!
Learn something of use for once.
It always seems, you’re caught up in dreams,
and go through your life like a dunce.”
“Look at the others, your sisters and brothers,
and all that they have achieved.
But you are the one, who gets nothing done.
Because of the junk you’ve believed.”
His words cut me deep. I wanted to weep.
Yet I loved this beautiful flower.
Its color was vibrant, but he was a tyrant;
and he wielded so much power.
“Tell me its use. Don’t give an excuse.
I see no practical reason.
Don’t tell me it’s Spring, or any such thing,
like it’s because of the season!”
“Why need a reason? You act like it’s treason,
that I want to add some beauty.
It’s without fail, that you always wail,
and remind me of my duty.”
“Be like the rest! Achieve your best.
Do something more with your life.
That’s all that I hear, whenever you’re near.
You cause me nothing but strife.”
“Strife’s what you cause! Just follow the laws.
But for you, they are never sufficient.
The real solution, is contribution,
to do something that is efficient.”
“Look past the surface. That thing has no purpose.
Deep down, you know that I’m right.
Burn it or trash it, toss it or smash it.
Just take it away from my sight!”
“Come on Gatekeeper, for once just look deeper.
See with a fresh set of eyes.
Show ability; beyond utility.
And stop believing such lies.”
He’d taken his stand, and held up his hand,
gesturing for me to leave.
I was being dismissed, like I didn’t exist,
by a fool who couldn’t perceive.
Feeling dejected from being rejected,
I took my flower and went.
He thought I’d never, be very clever,
and be able to circumvent.
The next day I went back, with a large sack,
and asked to beg his pardon.
“I have here this seed, to meet peoples need.
May I plant it in the garden?”
“This I endorse, the answer’s of course.
Plant your seed that will provide food.
Do something useful, that’ll be fruitful,
This you should’ve always pursued.”
I nodded with grace, as I lied to his face,
and planted all day and all night.
The flowers all bloomed and lightened the gloom,
and the fool was shocked by the sight.
Filled with bright colors, all of the others,
Planted flowers, in every place.
They were all thrilled that the house became filled;
the Gatekeeper left in disgrace.
I could descend, with no one to offend.
There was not a single dissenter.
With the best flower, full of its power,
I went down to the room in the center.
It’s there to this day, and still on display,
filling the room with its presence.
Many come to see, and sit and just be,
and stay still before its luminescence.