Today is my birthday
And Grandfather's gift for me
Is very old and special
A gold chain with a key
Grandfather tells me a story
Of when Daddy was at my age
And his father gave Daddy a key
For each generation to relay
Daddy takes my 5 year old hand
I know he likes having a son
With my 7 older sisters
I'm his only one
We walk through many halls
Past more than one different door
Then stop in front of one that smiles
I grin and look at the floor
As I insert the key in the lock
It smiles as it turns the key
Daddy says "go right ahead,
There's somewhere I need to be"
I step into the friendly front door
Only to be faced with another
It's a little smaller and tells jokes
I laugh and can't wait to tell mother
I open my funny smaller door
What is this I see?
One other door that's taller
But luckily not thinner than me
I peek as I open what I hope is all
Of the doors I've had my fill of today
Lo and behold, it's like finding gold
I'm definitely on my way
A couple of stairs and I'll be there
I don't even know what I'll find
But I sure hope all those doors
Are worthy and I won't mind!
from my iPhone
Petra Fleur, Ca, USA
Author notes
Written while visiting my birthplace, Timaru/Aotearoa.
A contest entry
- HUGUENAUTIES CONTEST No. #48 by huguenauties.
750 points, ended September 25, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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What a beautiful story told beautifully! Life is an adventure, and new doors open as we go on our way, growing every year. How wonderful that his grandfather took this gentle method to impart such an important life lesson!
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So many doors to open to travel through time. I'd like to know what the little girl found behind the last door. Beautiful poem dear Petra. Good luck in the voting.
Hinemoa
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This is an interesting poem! The meaning hidden in the gift of the key to all these doors teases my mind. The verse is light and easy, nothing to improve there. When we are young, there is an endless series of doors, isn't there? Great thoughts. Cheers!
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Well done, Petra!
It was good to read one of your poems again.
I hope you're enjoying your visit to your home land, New Zealand. That's quite a long trip you made! I wish that I could meet Edna and Hugh!
Big Hugs for you and Good Luck in the contest, too!
zzz
♥ Maureen
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Each of life's experiences is like another door unlocked, one which only we can hold the key.
A very thoughtful and well written poem, Petra. It's good to see you posting among us
Good luck in the contest
Dee
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Dear Petra, it's lovely to see you posting an entry in our contest and what a beauty it is. I wonder what this little boy finds at the bottom of the stairs? Lovely sweetheart, what a way to time travel. I'm happy you got to meet Hugh and Edna, aren't they a beaut couple?
Good luck in the voting.
Love Aunty Joan
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The journey via iPhone
contrasting with the opening
of door upon door, time
traveling by technology,
a most interesting creation!
M-C
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That's a lot of texting...Good job
-
excellent~
Wow
Loved this from the start to the finish
Best of luck in the contest
And I must welcome you to our group
I just posted my new one for the group tonight
Hope you come give mine a read as well
Hugs
Your castle sis
Susan~~~
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Each generation is a layer in our personal history holding our hands in the room of family and preparing us, leading us to the first door we must pass through to start our journey in life in which their are many more we will choose to open.
This is a lovely piece and I enjoyed the read tremendously. Thanks for entering the contest and best of luck in the voting.
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Dear Petra,
You already know how thrilled I am to have met you face-to-face after all these years of writing to each other. Now, although you have gone down to Timaru to be with your father for a few days, you send me this extra thrill by entering our contest again after almost a year since your last posting on the AP site.
And what a superb entry it is!
YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL FLAIR FOR NATURAL EXPRESSION WHICH IS EVIDENT AGAIN IN THIS POEM. You write from your head and your great heart and spill your thoughts into print without conscious constraint of meter or rhyme because these are naturally inherent in your thinking.
I love the way you have used doors, keyholes and stairs metaphorically as layers of discovery.
"A couple of stairs and I'll be there
I don't even know what I'll find
But I sure hope all those doors
Are worthy and I won't mind!"
Just wonderful!
Applause, thanks for entering, best of luck in the voting and welcome back
Much love and hugs,
Arohanui e kia ora tonu. xxx...ooo... (Uncle) Hugh (R.)
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