Front Door
by Steve Bogdaniec
I don’t know what to say about it
It’s not a miracle or a
metaphor for something bigger
it’s not even ours technically
we rent this place
It’s a front door
It doesn’t care about your dreams
you can’t confide in it
don’t try
It’s not something to behold
it is something to separate the outside from the
inside
It is covered with white paint
worn and dirty near the handle where we’ve
touched it for
six years
The front door is not art
It is not reassuring
it’s not abusive either
This door is no murderer,
but is it squeaky clean?
hell no
in the hallway, no one is
innocent
There’s no front hall closet
or anything like that
so we have a metal rack that fits over the top
for our coats
and my wife’s purse and four scarves
There’s paint on the hinges
sloppy
Love the glass doorknob though
my mom’s house has some of those
they look old
Do we need a more compassionate front door?
The keyhole is pointless
we’ve never seen a key for it
and there probably isn’t one anymore
the door has a deadbolt and a
chain at the top
instead
But I like that the keyhole is still there
some time, I should try
to look through it
I just looked through it
really dusty in there, but it
looks like it works fine
We figured out the best place to
leave ourselves notes
is by the lock on the front door
we never go out the back,
so you’re bound to see it
even if you don’t leave
sitting on the couch in the living room
there will be a green note staring you in the face
reminding you to grab your lunch
My biggest gripe would be
you need to make sure it really closes when
you close it
sometimes you’re in the hallway thinking it’s
shut behind you
and there is a cat on the doormat
ready to escape
This is all minor though
it’s really fine
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I loved the idea of this prompt so much more than the prompt itself. I wanted to do it, but I didn’t know what to write! I certainly don’t mean this piece to mock anyone else—I just do not have a connection with my front door. In the end, I tried to create something out of this lack of connection.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve Bogdaniec is a writer and teacher, currently teaching at Wright College, Chicago, IL, U.S. Steve has had poetry and short fiction published in numerous journals, most recently in Eclectica Magazine, Silver Birch Press, and Jellyfish Review. His work can also be found in the Nancy Drew Anthology: Writing & Art Inspired by Everyone’s Favorite Female Sleuth. Check out stevebogdaniec.com for links to published work and updates on new stuff!