Standing Guard

A Poem by Near

A piece about abuse, power and conflict.

Ask the doors�"
they’ll tell you all.

The walls can’t hold a candle
to their depths.

They’ve seen rivers overflow,
oceans,
seas.

They’ve heard thunder
roar deeper
than any king’s boast.

These useless pieces of wood,
when closed
and locked,

know how flowers are plucked,
how innocence is destroyed.

Elephants trample
the tiniest roses.

They’ll whisper
every law of the jungle
while standing firm�"
the only escape,
unmoving,
unyielding.

Keepers of the universe,
keepers of the darkest corners.

They can testify�"
in court,
to all the NOs,
the STOP,
the pain that hurts.

These doors have seen
the coldest winters,
the hottest summers.

They’ve witnessed power
being abused.

Cold, rusty keys
begging for entry.

These doors are the key.
They see.
They’ve seen.
They can testify.

But what do we do?
We burn them,
replace them
with something new.

We’re left with
the sweet scent of thick, black smoke,
the dancing, tall fire.