{"id":564,"date":"2026-05-27T16:00:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T21:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/?p=564"},"modified":"2026-05-27T14:54:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T19:54:23","slug":"at-tannhauser-gate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2026\/05\/27\/at-tannhauser-gate\/","title":{"rendered":"At Tannhauser Gate"},"content":{"rendered":"

This might have been better for Memorial Day, but it came to me this morning. I hope you enjoy it. It has a happier ending than most of the things referencing the name.<\/em><\/p>\n

Standing at the gate, a laser in his hand
\nThe last of the defenders makes a final stand.
\nArmor counts for little against a cunning foe
\nYet still will he stand, til they strike the final blow.<\/p>\n

Though bombs and ship beams glitter
\nIn place of cannon, sword, and bow.
\nDefeat is no less bitter
\nThough in time will valor show.<\/p>\n

The bursting bombs around him,
\nstill must pierce his shell
\nAs he guards the charge behind him
\nAnd sends the foeman back to hell.<\/p>\n

Standing in the rubble, his charges living still
\nThe last of the defenders, guards through stubborn will.
\nWith no one to relieve him, he keeps to his feet
\nAnd friend or foe will find him ready still to meet.<\/p>\n

When at last come brothers
\nFresh and strong and bold.
\nThe defender gives the tasks to others
\nAnd releases then his hold.<\/p>\n

Quiet in the darkness,
\nHe lays weary, still, and cold.
\nA lost soul quickly harkens
\nAt the fleeting heart to hold.<\/p>\n

Standing by the bed side, of the wounded, failing soul
\nA gentle voice is singing, a song to call him home.
\nNo gate will yet admit him, death refuses now his call,
\nBut those he saved restore him, and bring him to their hall.<\/p>\n

At Tannhauser Gate<\/em> copyright \u00a9 Heather Strickler 2026 all rights reserved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This might have been better for Memorial Day, but it came to me this morning. I hope you enjoy it. It has a happier ending than most of the things referencing the name. Standing at the gate, a laser in his hand The last of the defenders makes a final stand. Armor counts for little… Read More At Tannhauser Gate<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":565,"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_feature_clip_id":0,"_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":[28,27,12,23,20,15,11,17,25],"class_list":["post-564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","category-writing","tag-adventure","tag-chiaroscuro","tag-hope","tag-light","tag-mood","tag-oaths","tag-poetry","tag-story","tag-wonder"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/At-Tanhauser-Gate.jpg?fit=600%2C600","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/parUcj-96","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":457,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/10\/13\/guardians\/","url_meta":{"origin":564,"position":0},"title":"Guardians","author":"Heather","date":"October 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"From the same world as the Siren\u2019s call poem. A bit more of a historical piece. In the woods a ring of stones Black as night, strong, alone. A portal held against the foe From other worlds and long ago. A clan there was of warriors strong Who guard the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","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\/10\/Guardian-Blackstone2.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Guardian-Blackstone2.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Guardian-Blackstone2.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":516,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/19\/wardens-song\/","url_meta":{"origin":564,"position":1},"title":"Warden’s Song","author":"Heather","date":"December 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This is set to a jauntier tune in my head than perhaps it should be. In any event I hope you enjoy this little monster hunting song. The foe is waiting for us and we shall track him down Before he brings his terrors to another simple town. Ride we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","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\/12\/Wardens-Song.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Wardens-Song.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Wardens-Song.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":520,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/31\/the-watch-at-the-gate\/","url_meta":{"origin":564,"position":2},"title":"The Watch at the Gate","author":"Heather","date":"December 31, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","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\/12\/Watch-at-the-Gates.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Watch-at-the-Gates.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Watch-at-the-Gates.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":445,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/12\/edge-of-darkness\/","url_meta":{"origin":564,"position":3},"title":"Edge of Darkness","author":"Heather","date":"September 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Days are dark but hope is never gone. A light in the darkness cannot be quenched. A star in the sky burns forever entrenched. Where there is light, the night holds no sway. And though darkness may come, to dawn it gives way. A candle held high can be snuffed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":439,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/03\/the-mad-king\/","url_meta":{"origin":564,"position":4},"title":"The Mad King","author":"Heather","date":"September 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Something one of my novel worlds poked to life. The crushing weight of duty Like irons weighing down The love of kin and country Pile lead upon the crown. While his heart seeks out an answer His mind is giving in. Not to pride or to hubris Nor to bright\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","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\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":415,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/07\/28\/knight-of-the-fairy-wood\/","url_meta":{"origin":564,"position":5},"title":"Knight of the Fairy Wood","author":"Heather","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The darkness always comes, but the light always rises to defeat it no matter how long the night between. Fairies dance within the wood Guarding right and growing good, And when their wicked fall away The fairies mourn from dusk to day. In that mourning in the night The fallen\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","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\/Knight-of-the-Fairy-Wood.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Knight-of-the-Fairy-Wood.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Knight-of-the-Fairy-Wood.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564","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=564"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":566,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564\/revisions\/566"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}