Is this the same nightmare
or
has grim reality
finally handcuffed me?

I opened the door
to the brick containment.
I saw serpents smiling, their scarlet
fangs dripping.
They seemed proud of their thievery.

Up ahead, three doors.
All beckoned,
promising safety on the other side.
I chose the center port.

I opened the chosen door,
turned to close it.
Before me,
the likeness of
a costumed character
from a children’s show.
No garment, this monster’s body.
He bellowed with breath
as hot as the sun.
His thunder a never ending boomerang.

I ran swiftly
toward two new doors.
They, too, promised survival.

I opened the one on the left,
closed it as I looked up.
I was attacked by a jungle of webs.
We became brazed.
A rocking chair
was creaking,
rocking in slow,
determined cadence.
It was filled
with nothing and no one.
The non entity
wickedly laughed
ever so softly,
melting me.

One remained.
I lunged toward it,
hoping to slay this horror.
Awestruck, my eyes observed,
existing in perfect partnership,
fire
and
ice.

COPYRIGHT 2001 by Michael Bonanno
LOC Reg. #TXu 988-155

Reproduction of “Doors” or
any part therein without
the express written
permission of Michael
Bonanno is prohibited
unless the reproduction
meets The Copyright Act
“fair use” doctrine, (title 17, U. S. Code)..

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