the doorway
note to self

what a weird safeguard
to ward off calamity—
when has fright for
your child unfolded
exactly as you imagined?
not once

at the back of your mind
is a doorway—when
you’ve concocted
tormenting nightmares
it’s the way out of
misshapen thinking

stride through that door
straight into the arms
of not-knowing
welcome her embrace
yes, stories will play—
be gracious, be thoughtful
and don’t touch them

2022 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.