On Life's Doorstep

On life’s doorstep we stand alone At its mercy like an abundant orphan Frantic yanks on the lock and chain To escape our fear of the unknown On life’s doorstep there’s no welcome home mat Desperate bare knuckled knocks dissipate The door’s fortified, shaped like a tombstone Embedded in a six-foot deep foundation The doorknocker ‘s out of reach Life’s shut and we struggle for every inch On this doorstep we feel like an unwelcome stranger An unexpected guest, forbidden, never to entre We await our turn in the long queue Many fall off the edge before their cue Some pick the lock trying to cheat Quickly reminded that this life has no shortcut Wondering if our DNA isn’t the code to access If our talent isn't the key that will unlock our success Before the descend of the drawbridge And we’re crushed in the stampede In this neighbourhood there’s nothing familiar We guess the address there’s no house number Out of a thousand doors this one shows the most promise We patiently knock and callout to whomever may answer We hope life’s looking through the peephole Before our past pulls us into the abysmal That mercy’s the hinges that will swing the door open Turn the doorknob before the neighbours complain