Doors

The dirt flies
as the footsteps echo
across plain and field.
Heavy breathing,
they watch her walk
on and up
to drawbridge lowered

The heart pounds
and the approach comes
closer looming larger.
Hand is raised.
Fist is clenched.
Door beaten with intent,
the knock still barely echoes

Waiting with baited breath
Nothing moves
inside the walls or out.
Eyes are focused,
Will of steel,
Determination bound,
Arms raised to try again.

In silence,
with no pre-emption
doors creak
to slowly open
Footsteps forward
Into inner sanctuary
Barriers closed behind

Eyes adjust
to change of light
Armies watch her pass
to move onwards
towards the next
barrier of passage
Nothing moves from path

With stares surround
The girl is standing
at another door to come
Nothing waivers
Focused disregard
for soldiers watching
sole entrant is waiting

Knock echoes louder
Door opens quicker
Scene is played again
Quiet treading
No word is spoken
The stranger moves on in
to next block upon the path

Each knock is risen
from breaths of silence
left unanswered on the wind
Each door is opened
without question
or persuasion
The girl she moves on in

Time still passes
without sound
Light changes into dark
and soon she’s passed
through doors unopened
for past enemy or kin
Each closes as she enters

Never looking back
The closing echoes
Across valley and desert
To ears afar
who wait for news
of a girl
who walks alone

Doors opened
Doors closed
No repetition here
For each one passed
brings it closer
Determination carries
and knows why she came

The clock chimes echo
and mark her passage close
but she’ll continue
on paths not trodden,
through doors,
under eyes
until they know her name.