Are The Gates Half Open Or Half Closed?

I guess the answer to that will depend on your perspective as a reader.

If you are in agreement with my thoughts and philosophies, the gates will be half closed.

If you feel threatened by my thoughts and philosophies, the gates will appear to be half open, and gaping wider all the time. If this is the case, pay attention and trust your instincts (although if this is indeed the case, you probably have no instincts, having been taught to kill them as a child of parents who were terrified by individuality). That might very well be your signal to scram. Or at least to tiptoe, lest you waken an independent thought within your own mind.

There's a line I like from dismissing quarters:

Stay if you will; go if you must, in perfect love and perfect trust.

What's "perfect" about it? Damned if I know. Uncle Gerald musta been smoking some wacky tabacky when he wrote it. But it sounds good to the ear. Earnest, like. Almost as if we know what we're doing...

Okay, we're up and running. Andiamo!