the lockless door

it went many years,

but at last came a knock,

& i thought of the door

with no lock to lock.

 

i blew out the light,

i tip-toed the floor,

& raised both hands

in prayer to the door.

 

but the knock came again

my window was wide;

i climbed on the sill

& descended outside.

 

back over the sill

i bade a “come in”

to whoever the knock

at the door may have been.

 

so at a knock

i emptied my cage

to hide in the world

& alter with age.

 

robert frost