The Blue Door

I never noticed the door there before–never
imagined a door there was needed. Like a
crucible of dalliances supersedes
catastrophes
–why hadn’t I noticed the blue door before?

not to be hysterical, not to cry for attention but
until then I’d come to fear the punctuated day
until I listened closely and heard the thrum
of insomniac wings
moving about in the night

like women in silk gowns with long trains dragging
and noticed the blue door opening and closing
the night sky into pauses and exclamation points
but then the moon met me in the mirror with an

0-gape stare of despair and the self-flagellation
of unrequited love. I looked up at the church steeple
and later saw your face gentled by candles. I moved
closer to whisper praise but your hands, stiff with
holiness, turned my heart cold and planetary

© selma


Hello friends, I was impressed with this poem that came to me after reading one
I loved.

Source: Poetry Foundation’s March 2023 issue

The poem:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/159643/the-blue-door

*title and three lines (italicized) after The Blue Door by Ann Lauterbach

  1. a crucible of dalliance supersedes
  2. fear the punctuated day
  3. the thrum of insomniac wings

Thanks so much for reading.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 19 Comments

    1. Selma Martin

      I live your spirit. Thanks for supporting my efforts. 🤗 🤗

  1. Robbie Cheadle

    A compelling poem, Selma 🌷

    1. Selma Martin

      Yes that dress … thanks for appreciating the poem dear Diana.

  2. Sadje

    What a lovely Abbas interesting poem Selma.

      1. Sadje

        You’re welcome! It was supposed to be “ lovely and interesting poem “ the autocorrect changed my words

  3. Deepthy

    A perfectly crafted poem, Selma! It reads so richly ✨

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for appreciating 🤗
      Beautiful dress I happened on. N love it too. Xoxo

  4. rajkkhoja

    Powerful words written in poem.
    “closer to whisper praise but your hands, stiff with
    holiness, turned my heart cold and planetary!”

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