The Other Door

Alan Harris

To take a perfect bolt

and start the nut awry

and twist it with a jolt

is like a lie.

To grab a kiss or touch

without her matching mood

won't gratify as much

as tasteless food.

To batter down a door

whose fault is being locked

won't satisfy us more

than having knocked.

For every door locked tight

a second unlocked door

will open with no fight

and please us more.

The one who knocks and waits,

then seeks an unlocked way,

transcends life's petty hates

and learns to pray.

All