Guarded Door

They guard the door to keep it shut tight
Lest the monsters kept in the closet escape at night
If they looked inside they’d face their true test
Seeing nothing but the emptiness threatening the rest they get from securing the monsters in their domain
For securing nothing but emptiness does nothing to feed the vain

So don’t look inside, listen to the lore from your passed-down lord
Telling you to guard the door forevermore
So nobody looks inside to find 
Their fathers died in a worthless war
If that door weren’t there you’d see nothing but stale air 
But its presence lets you see the monsters you dream are there.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

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

Bangalee Avatar
November 21, 2019 at 2:34 AM
the door let it stand like savior!
Zacharias Avatar
November 20, 2019 at 12:11 AM
This is excellent when I think about things I fear inside, and then I use your words that there is nothing there. It gives me courage to do something I may have been fearing along time to do. Thanks great write.
Sell Avatar
November 21, 2019 at 8:38 PM
I hadn’t thought about it in reference to internal fears, but it makes sense. Thanks so much for letting me know what you got from it! I am glad to learn it can be read in more than one way!
Kinard Avatar
November 19, 2019 at 2:42 PM
I didn't have a door to my closet so there was nothing to fear. I feared my Mother. we had to keep our rooms clean. So there was nothing under the bed.
Evans Avatar
March 17, 2018 at 7:51 PM
I can remember many a night as a child staring at that door. Nice poem.
Sell Avatar
March 19, 2018 at 12:06 PM
Thank you, Richard; I did something like that, too. The door was red, and I think the Rolling Stones song, "Paint it Black," must have inspired me to color it black with a crayon.
Cunningham Avatar
March 16, 2018 at 9:44 AM
Thought provoking Amy , all governments are the same. Tom
Sell Avatar
March 19, 2018 at 12:12 PM
Thank you, Tom. For the better or worse, it does seem that governments eventually end up being just like the ones they left!
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace