{"id":520,"date":"2025-12-31T16:18:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T22:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/?p=520"},"modified":"2025-12-31T16:18:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T22:18:32","slug":"the-watch-at-the-gate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/31\/the-watch-at-the-gate\/","title":{"rendered":"The Watch at the Gate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><em>A bit of an adventure to close out the year.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Vigil fire burning bright against the magic in the night<br \/>\nGates of old have opened wide and rent the veils where they would hide.<br \/>\nUnder cover of a spell, the Fair come forth with purpose fell.<br \/>\nAnd dare the guards to make them leave, from underneath the forest eves.<\/p>\n<p>So watch the gates you never know<br \/>\nWhat might come and what might go.<br \/>\nThe power binds and power breaks<br \/>\nAnd cuts the dawn to raise the stakes.<\/p>\n<p>Spoken blade has left its sheath and magic bares its angry teeth.<br \/>\nConn\u2019lly blade and Blackwood staff step through fire and into wrath.<br \/>\nWhere the Fair bind their bait and taunt the guards that come too late.<br \/>\nBut taunting foes often lie, in forest eves beneath the sky.<\/p>\n<p>So watch the gates you never know<br \/>\nWhat might come and what might go.<br \/>\nThe power binds and power breaks<br \/>\nAnd cuts the dawn to raise the stakes.<\/p>\n<p>Conn\u2019lly fell on mage\u2019s head and through battle long struck him dead.<br \/>\nBlackwood faced the rear guard well, and to his staff each one fell.<br \/>\nThen he turned to face the gate, and close the path where foes await.<br \/>\nOn that gleaming threshold bright, will grimly raced assembling might.<\/p>\n<p>So watch the gates you never know<br \/>\nWhat might come and what might go.<br \/>\nThe power binds and power breaks<br \/>\nAnd cuts the dawn to raise the stakes.<\/p>\n<p>And slow the door shuddered closed, Conn\u2019lly and Blackwood still exposed.<br \/>\nBut in the darkness of the night, no other foes came to light.<br \/>\nSo Conn\u2019lly wrapped a battered form, in his cloak safe and warm<br \/>\nBlackwood then led the way, back to light and cut of day.<\/p>\n<p>So watch the gates you never know<br \/>\nWhat might come and what might go.<br \/>\nThe power binds and power breaks<br \/>\nIn the cut of dawn where the world awakes.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Watch at the Gate<\/em> copyright \u00a9 Heather Strickler 2025 All rights reserved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A bit of an adventure to close out the year. Vigil fire burning bright against the magic in the night Gates of old have opened wide and rent the veils where they would hide. Under cover of a spell, the Fair come forth with purpose fell. And dare the guards to make them leave, from&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/31\/the-watch-at-the-gate\/\">Read More <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The Watch at the Gate<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":521,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[14,13],"tags":[28,12,20,11,17,25],"class_list":["post-520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","category-writing","tag-adventure","tag-hope","tag-mood","tag-poetry","tag-story","tag-wonder"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Watch-at-the-Gates.jpg?fit=600%2C600","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/parUcj-8o","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":402,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/07\/16\/gates-of-fairy-land\/","url_meta":{"origin":520,"position":0},"title":"Gates of Fairy Land","author":"Heather","date":"July 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Not all the things we out grow are imaginary. Two ash trees stand, slim and tall All twined with crystal flowers A pegasus and unicorn Graze in that forest bower. The ashes\u2019 branches curl and twine To make a forest door And through that gate, shimmering, A land beckons me\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/FairyGates.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/FairyGates.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/FairyGates.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":390,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/05\/07\/gates-of-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":520,"position":1},"title":"Gates of Light","author":"Heather","date":"May 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Something I hope brightens your day. Gates above now shining down Look on me and show your crown. The keeper stands and guards the door While shadows throng up to its shore. Hearts lift up to hope and more Take the joy that they implore. The fire of hope lights\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gates-of-Light.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gates-of-Light.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Gates-of-Light.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":494,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/11\/19\/riddle-charm\/","url_meta":{"origin":520,"position":2},"title":"Riddle Charm","author":"Heather","date":"November 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A riddle one of my characters presented people trying to break into his mind. I hope you enjoy it more than the people he gave it to did. Chord on chord you must unbind If you want to win my mind. Father, son, and spirit strong Guard the gates for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Riddle-Charm.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Riddle-Charm.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Riddle-Charm.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":555,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2026\/05\/06\/final-cut\/","url_meta":{"origin":520,"position":3},"title":"Final Cut","author":"Heather","date":"May 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In my Blackwood world, the creation myth (which is another poem here: Blade of Dawn) involves the first dawn being literally cut from the darkness. And in that world in Albion they speak of life being woven. So death is the final cut, the complete tapestry for this world looking\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Final-Cut.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Final-Cut.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Final-Cut.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":552,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2026\/04\/24\/moon-road\/","url_meta":{"origin":520,"position":4},"title":"Moon Road","author":"Heather","date":"April 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Something quietly shining for your day. The pearly moon has risen In the dusky sky And seen are things long hidden And given wings to fly. A wish lights in the darkness And trembling hands hold true While the hopeful heart now harkens And wonders what to do. No sage\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MoonRoad.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MoonRoad.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MoonRoad.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":266,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2024\/09\/18\/flight-of-fancy\/","url_meta":{"origin":520,"position":5},"title":"Flight of Fancy","author":"Heather","date":"September 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A little whimsy to brighten your day. Touch a star, tuck it away Save it for a rainy day. Pull it out when days are sad It\u2019s shining glow will make you glad. Find a fairy\u2019s secret hoard Look all about when you are bored. A touch of thought and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Flight-of-Fancy.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Flight-of-Fancy.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Flight-of-Fancy.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=520"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":522,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520\/revisions\/522"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}