Fire door

Photo by ZUMRAD NORMATOVA from Pexels

Danger
Thunder and lightning

Caution
A box that opens
(but should not)

Caution
Red seeds you could eat
(but should not)

Caution
A bargain to make
(but should not)

That door
Keep shut

Only those who dare
Do not.

—

Earlier this week I took a photo of a door that entertained me:

Photo taken by BeadedQuill (C)

I liked how the list of commands added up to make a story about the fire door that ought to be kept shut. As a final coda (a whisper perhaps between the sign-maker and us) there is the assertion that whatever is behind that door is private. A funny, little joke, I thought.

Knowing it was time for a new blog post I started playing with caution as a starting point, thinking about things that were dangerous and ought to be kept enclosed or not broached. It was too obvious to go for the apple of Eden, so instead I turned to mythology and literature (although I am certain there are mythological bargains that would work, too). Those old tales suggest that some doors ought to be kept closed and yet there are those who dare otherwise.

For your enjoyment, here are additional poems inspired by mythology and symbolism:

Visitation

Hope and Sky have disappeared

Every Sign of the Zodiac

—

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Books are for sale on Blurb, including Jangle between Jangle, poems written during the London commute.