Door

I open and close
my favorite door
to hear the whine
of its hinges; it doesn't
lead anywhere
but dark, and I never
go out. I have
binoculars, good eyes.
Door seems to have grey eyes; I'm not sure.

He never smiles
but is always friendly
in his way.
I catch the scent
of forest, pine needles,
mushrooms when I open him,
sometimes when I stand close
and knock.

I think he's a bear
sometimes when I wake late--
I wish he were.
He could protect me.
And I could walk with him
in the daylight, ask him questions
about how it feels.
He never growls.

And when I wake
he's just my door
through which, someday,
I'll leave.

-Michael Hettich

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