The Key

kathleen-key-gold250

 

The Key

~

he has kept it locked for so long
none can pass
his grief makes certain none will try

this is a dark forbidden place
high-walled
cold and barren
unyielding
lifeless

brutal night has fallen
no sun can penetrate

the darkness soothes him
he retreats into its depths
hiding
shielded from any further pain

but see
a shadow falls across the threshold
someone approaches

a comely being
warm and alive
lays gentle siege
threatening to breach his hardened fortress

but this lovely creature
fair and fragile
can not possibly gain entrance
must not

he will resist
this is wrong
this is trespass
this is cruel betrayal of his lost beloved

he has no right to leave this place of sorrow
no right

but his stronghold is succumbing
falling to this delicate advance

he is vulnerable
confused
but it is useless to resist

searching with a patient heart
she has found the key
grasped in her loving hand
fingers tenderly enfold it

gently
she slides it into the lock
turning with great care

he is defenseless
he feels his heart slowly open
the long forgotten stir of love
begins to warm his soul

~ ~ ~

rob kistner © 2019

_________________

 

  • Click below here to read more poetry at dVerse:

    Open Link Night # 239

     

    32AD0E85-B0A5-4D6D-B19A-E51CD04E0C53DAY 12

  • 44 thoughts on “The Key”

    1. A heart locked with grief and pain is hard pick open, Rob. You have conveyed it well with effective vocabulary: cold, barren, brutal and unyielding. I’m so glad that someone found the key.

    2. I had three marriages, with a 7 year bachelor gap between them. This lovely poem resonates well with me. Twice the key has been found and used effectively. But the last time, 27 years ago, the key was golden.

      1. I did the walk 3 times also Glenn. 4 years between 1 and 2, then 9 years until 3 – which has lasted 30 years in May. I was older than each of them, and married each of them when they were in their 20’s. First two were 23 when I married them. My third was 23 when I met her, I was 40 – but we didn’t marry her until she was 27. Guess I had a thing for 23-year-old women…? 😉

    3. How beautifully descriptive of a heart unfolding once more after the deep wound of loss and grief. Unfortunately for me, the charmer who found the key proved to have feet of clay. For years thereafter my garden wall was graced with a verdigris frog I dubbed Prince, Formerly Known as Frog.

      1. Glad this resonated for you Bev! Don’t know if there is a cure for clay feet? “…a verdigris frog I dubbed Prince, Formerly Known as Frog.” LOL 😉

      1. Thank you Ken, and Yes, I also believd that we humans are meant to love – even in spite of horrid public examples that some people appear to thrive on hatred.

    4. This expresses both the deep pain of loss but also the hope in the future. My mom was a WWII widow when I was only a baby, remarried 7 years later. Her mantra was: “The heart always has room for more love.”

    5. A lovely metaphor Rob for finding that one person who fits. There’s always someone there who has the key. Happy not to have missed reading this.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *