Curate, connect, and discover
A short poem written by me, loosely based off the concept from this piece of literature.
I Climbed the Gates of Heaven A white, soft light appears behind my eyelids. I open them slowly but the light gets no brighter. It is comforting and warm. The world comes into focus. Smiling people and joy. Reunions occur all around me. My grandparents are there, happy and young. They wrap me in a hug. But there is one face I don't see. I break from their embrace and call out. My voice is musical, beautiful. But it receives no reply. I run down the street, gold beneath my feet. But I don't take the time to admire it. There is a greater beauty in wait. My family calls after me, laughing. "What is the rush, my child?" But I don't turn back. When I reach it, it is huge, standing tall over everything. I cannot see the top from the ground. The pearl is cold to the touch but somehow still soft. Reaching out, I place my feet and pull myself up the bars. I hear them calling me. But I don't look back. I slip a couple times and almost fall. My muscles tired and aching. But I don't hesitate. When I at last reach the top, I swing my legs over and sit. The wails of the lonely reach my ears. The cries of the left behind. I climbed the gates of heaven. I descend slowly and the farther I go, the colder it gets. The bars become more solid, more unforgiving. I falter more often but I do not stop. At the bottom I am surrounded by thick fog. The air is stagnant yet harsh and I gasp loudly. But everything is muted here. I step around those howling by the entrance. Demanding admittance to where I have left. They have no eyes for me nor I for them. I call your name again but it is rough to my ears. I call louder, pushing my way into the fog. Like a whisper, I hear you call back. I am running now, falling often on the uneven ground. But I pick myself up, running faster. Pushed on by that whisper of you. The last time I fall I am caught by your arms. A white light emerges from where your hands touch mine. You are soft and warm. As I sigh out your name my voice is again musical. Your smile is radiant. The fog recedes in its wake. I climbed the gates of heaven. I climbed the gates of heaven, To be with you, Because you, Are all the heaven I need.