The Keyhole

Stacked in the corner of our old barn with chipped paint rested some old door.

Who’s it was no one knew, and within the lock; A skeleton key stood.

I leaned it up to look behind, and wondered what else I might find,

but to my dismay nothing was there but a stack of hay.


We finished our work and turned to leave
and to my amazement a knocking came.

This time as I examined the door,
the skeleton key fell to the floor.

A timid voice began to speak, and to my surprise that voice was me.

“Who’s there,” I said so soft.

“Open the door and you can find out.”

A memory sprang to life. A memory where I was eight or nine.

A happy hand picked up the key and once in my pocket I turned to leave.

Reviews

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Oooh love this
So my type of short story
Leaves me wondering what the memories are

[Cherrie Palmer]

:) thank you Julie
I wanted it to straddle a childs memory and make believe.

[Julie McCarthy (juliespenhere)]

Loved it
It helps bring back this old reader’s memory too !!!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Nothing like a childhood memorie to warm a the heart. A wonderful poem

[Cherrie Palmer]

:) thank you so much. Yes childhood memories always seem to have more colors.

[JE Falcon]

Well, this was a fun surprise, Cherrie. I Loved every vision. :)

[Cherrie Palmer]

I wanted it to fall somewhere between childhood fantasy and a forgotten memory

[Cherrie Palmer]

Kinda like remembering your invisible friend

[JE Falcon]

Oh yes, the little man under the bed. I was a strange kid.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Well you tell that little guy to beat it or I'll send my invisible dog Killer to fetch him.

[JE Falcon]

My Mom told me that the Little Man and I were friends, I talked to him regularly, or so she said. And they say that "The Little People" are just fantasy.

[Cherrie Palmer]

That's great mom's are wonderful. I told the kids monsters were afraid of me. So I dispatched the scary things

[JE Falcon]

LOL, what a great idea. And I am sure they bought it.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Well yeah:) plus in a pinch I have a great grouping

[Soren]

An interesting theme and one that kept interest to the end. I was puzzled by the line: " I picked up the and once in my pocket" It sounded like key was left out of the line and I wasn't sure if this was deliberate or not.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I added that line with my phone and somehow the word key got dropped.
Thank you for asking. I fixed it back.

[Lisasview]

Oh, I love this I walked along with you down memory lane Cherrie..
Lisa

[Cherrie Palmer]

A little make believe with our morning coffee ☕️

[Lisasview]

So lovely.. Cappuccino...here in beautiful sunny Spain..Great for painting and poetry..

[Cherrie Palmer]

Yes Spain is a beautiful place I would love to visit.

[Lisasview]

We only moved here a year or so ago..from the States.
Yes, you should visit..you might never want to leave!!

[An owl on the moon]

The sweet, soft setting took me back to my great uncle's farm in Oregon that I would visit. Could sense this wonder in your words... this lingering question of the doorway... the passage there in the shadow... and the passage within. So beautifully expressed.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Mt grandpa had such a barn. Where we played. I'm glad this poem reminded you of there.

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Cherrie… I remember Skeleton Keys… especially in Old houses and Barns. Many loved ones left a Key and a Will to be free. Camping in the Woods and finding Memories Behind Barn Doors… Ghosts are always an Invitation to explore the Unknown. tenderly, Pat

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

This kind of reminded me of a horror show or mystery! I enjoyed this!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Maybe the wardrobe to Narnia has moved. At any rate something or someone wants you to have the key. May all your discoveries be pleasant ones. I enjoyed the read.

[KAREN]

This was so good! The readers can use their own imaginations to guess who was behind the door!