Doorways, by Julie A. Dickson

White Doors, by Vilhelm Hammershoi (Denmark) 1899

Doorways

Stand the passage of time between open doors,
green painted floorboards distract,
painted avenue as upon manicured lawn, 
among stately white birch in a virgin forest
seen through door upon door to outdoors,
where sunlight shadows dance on floor,
dun walls against stark white doors, inviting.
 
Doors not equal in proportion or destination,
left open as if portal gained will yield escape,
yet one handle-less, ready to entrap if closed.
Second door through which is seen identical 
green floor and still another door,  seemingly
a myriad, undefined maze through mindfulness.
 
Offered illusive escape, wandering the birch
in futile search, endless green path with
no frame of reference, only framed doorways.
 
Julie A. Dickson

Julie A. Dickson is a New Hampshire poet and writer of young adult fiction. Her writing explore teen issues including bullying, loneliness, abuse and alcoholism, as well as nature and environment. Her work can be seen in Blue Heron Review, The Harvard Press, Folded Word Press, The Avocet Nature Poetry Journal, among others. Dickson advocates for the release of zoo and circus elephants to sanctuary. Her chapbook, A World without Ivory [2018] is available on Amazon.