Emily Ann Poet Free verse

Door- Half open

I hesitate 
When I reach for the knob
Unsure what percentage to leave the door at

All the way open
Is far too dangerous
Constantly at risk
Of intrusion
Constantly in danger
Of walking out

All the way closed
Is far too hopeful
I know it’s what’s safest
To be completely alone 
But I can’t bring myself to do it

It seems far too harsh
To slam a door with no explanation 
But that isn’t quite right 
Because I always explain 
Before my hand ever reached for the knob
I was explaining why 
I thought about it in the first place

But it shatters me
Thinking about you
Sitting outside my closed door
Knocking to be let in
I halfway believe you wouldn’t bother to knock
And I halfway believe you would wail until I let you in

So I sit somewhere in halfway
You sit somewhere in the middle
Alone 
But alone together 

I wish I could close the door behind you
Find a way to trap you in
But I don’t think my heart could handle
You banging on the door from the inside
To be let out 

Because you seem to love windows
Even when the door is completely open
When you’re free to come and go
You 
Love to climb through a window

And if that’s what you did
When the door was open
What would you do
If I trapped you within
Would you look for a window?
Make a hole in the wall?
Or would you just sit with me
Not looking for a way out 

That’s what I fantasize about
As I reach for the knob
Realizing I never answered my question
How open do I leave the door?

Someone else yanks the door 
From the other side
The cold knob ejects from my hand
Sitting shut across from me

It seems I waited too long
Let all the heat out
And let a icy draft in 
And the choice was made for me.

a window opens

I thought it was closed
But there you are 
Back in my room
Door closed 
Window open

I realized I didn’t have the key 
To lock either 
Because it was hidden between your lips
And I seem to have forgotten it there
The last time we kissed 

I can’t seem to retrieve it though
you were halfway out the door again
When your lips met mine 
Never long enough for me to take it back
Or perhaps it was long enough
But I forgot completely about the key
When you kissed me
On your way out the door 

Does it matter how open the door is
If it’s always unlocked
Does it matter if it’s locked
If you hold the key
To every door
To every window
Is my boundary imaginary

Even so
How open should I leave it
Enough to appear as though we’ve moved on
But enough to know your intrusion is always welcome
And maybe some day
You’ll use the key

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment