To the Girl I Met Through Doorways

To a lost friend

The Girl I met Through Doorways:

Sometimes, doors open without you having to say please.

Your black dress and combat boots contrasted with that rainbow of a smile.

Those almond browns seemed to want to tell me more than they knew.

Like why we kept opening doors for each other,

Why our conversations only lasted a fraction of the time I wanted them to.

To the girl I met through doorways:

This one’s for you.

You’re beautiful.

If I could only tell you,

I would.

Because as you walk through that door I swear you’re going to knock it down.

I swear the Earth falters in your footsteps.

I swear.

I count the seconds it takes you to walk through the door,

I count the steps you take as you pass me by.

I count.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1,

5 steps and you’re gone.

To the girl I met through doorways,

Why do we always meet through doorways?
Why not in class or at a park or on a bus or anywhere but a doorway,

Because doorways always mean one of two things,

Entry or exit.

And in your case it's always exit.

It’s always exit!

Always.

To the girl I met through doorways:

One day you stopped walking through my door.

When I asked someone where you were,

They replied,

“She’s gone.”

Gone?

What the hell do you mean gone?

Dead or alive?

Here to stay or miles away?

To the girl I met through doorways,

Our fractions of conversations will never add up to a memory,

And our broken smiles will never amount to a picture frame.

Girl, I’d give anything to hold that door one more time for you.

To watch you walk those five steps.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1,

Sometimes doors close without you getting to say goodbye.

Author's Note

My poetry is meant to be heard and not read on the page, but unfortunately I cannot upload recordings to this website, so enjoy the written version and provide feedback as best you can. Thanks so much! --JM

Reviews

[Simone Davis]

Your poem doesn't need to be heard to have an effect straight away I felt a pulse beating when I read this. I heard your poem. Well done a beautiful piece.

[Jane Magnani]

Thanks so much!! :)