more than a four letter word
a golden door in front of me
opens one day in Aug
it lays ajar, waiting, but for what?
i peer within its walls
a silly joke, a sunlit smile
it beckons me, like siren song
a piece of advice, from the young & wise
i walk inside, but don’t stay for long
the door stays there
an unchanging constant
in the storyline of me
sometimes i see it, sometimes i leave it
open, but mostly i ignore
but one day, i return
a second chance, for that four-letter word
i’m enthralled, enticed, starlost
after years of searching
i’ve found a place, where i truly belong
it feels golden, the safety
it feels golden, the warmth
the light from inside, illuminates the night
i’m no longer scared
for i have the door
“a penny for your thoughts?”
you ask me once
it’s not hard for me to respond
my words are soundless, your ears unhearing
but still, i pretend that you hear them, they’re yours
i go through the door, whenever i’m sad
upset, angry, or bored
i take it for granted, that gold lacquer frame
until one day, it’s gone
a day goes by
then a week
then a month
the screen still black once more
the windows are shuttered, the shopfront is closed,
but i pray that you’ll return
and i’ll wait, however long
but you’ll be back, i know you will
for that four letter word lives on
the word isn’t “love”
nor is it “stay”
the four letter word
is “home”
~~~
this is one of the first poems I've ever wrote, but it still remains amongst my favourites to this day! I think part of the reason I really enjoyed writing this was because of how special the subject of the poem is to me, and hence my writing naturally became a little more candid and heartfelt. I tried to emanate a cosy, comforting atmosphere, reminiscent of the idea of a 'safe space', which is what the poem is about.
Would any STAYs out there like to take a guess at what sort of room I'm describing? :)