May 9.24: Coping, but barely

May 9, 2024 by Oddment 21 Comments

The rickety door

 

The rickety door,

brave old thing,

ancient soldier

splintering.

Sentry faithful,

straight, alone,

pledge and promise

sealed in stone.

Arched and crowned

in Gothic grace,

no option but

to age in place.

Creaking, popping,

rust embossed,

rheumatic squeaks

in echo tossed.

Door-in-door,

casual plumb,

witness to herald,

hoof and drum.

And now, time-sanded,

gapped and grey,

in rasping crick

it seems to say,

“Admit it.

You would love to see

what’s on the

other side of me.

But I’m the keeper,

you can’t see more;

I have my secrets.

I’m the rickety door.”

 

 

With thanks to photographer Brian (“Bushboy”),

submitted to Dan Antion’s

Thursday Doors Writing Challenge.