Unopened Door Recurring Dream
Unopened door …
It beckoned from the top of the long winding stairs,
that unopened door I could never reach, though many times I tried.
The stairway was dark and I would climb up slowly, keeping hands on the wall of each side.
There was a door at the bottom which I could easily open and it always closed behind me. I kept my eyes open wide, it was so hard to see.
I always looked up the stairs, hoping for some light. Around the second turn I could see a faint glow. A few more turns and there was the unopened door, with an aura so bright.
I could see the door had a wide frame, the door was snow white with a knob of gold. When I related the dream to family they did not believe what I told.
Except for Dad. He said I will not be able to reach and open the door, till the time came when I needed to know more.
I was so young, did not understand. There was something behind that door for me. I often had the dream, so real it did seem.
I could never reach it, could not get beyond a few steps from it. What was beyond? Should I keep trying or quit?
From the time I was about seven, the dream kept coming back. An answer to something I felt, but the knowledge I did lack.
Over the years the fear was there yet I kept going up, almost every night. Then fear began to fade as I moved up the flight.
When I reached the age of forty a new wisdom opened up to me. I forgot about that unopened door as I grew ever stronger in spirituality.
Is this what I was seeking behind that door so long ago? To find my spirituality and peace in my soul?
I like to think so.
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© Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved Phyllis Doyle Burns
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Writing this memoir was inspired in me when I read John Hansen’s “Cavern of All Fears“. The memoir is true, it was John’s poem that triggered the memory, so I wrote about it.
I have always liked to write.It is important to me that writing comes from my heart and soul. When writing poetry, if I do not feel a spiritual connection to what I am writing on, I will discard it and go on to something I can connect with on a spiritual level. I live in the moment, I write from the past or beyond the veil. When writing fiction I go with whatever inspires me at the moment - it could be funny, sorrowful, romantic or sometimes done with the use of colloquial language from mountain folk or other cultural regions.
I began writing content online in 2007, starting with BellaOnline - A Voice For Women, where I was the Native American Editor, Folklore & Mythology Editor, and the Appalachian Editor. I also wrote articles forThe Examiner, Daily Two Cents, and Yahoo. I am currently an author on HubPages.
Most of what I write takes a lot of research and I love it. Even if it is a fictional story, I will research for accuracy in whatever it takes to make my characters, their era, their location, etc. become realistic to the reader.
I hope you enjoy my works. Thank you for visiting.
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Very interesting to hear about this recurring dream of the unopened door. Glad that my poem triggered this memory and that you found your peace and spirituality. Good work, Phyllis.
Thank you, John. I had forgotten all about that dream till I read your poem. Funny how memories can lay dormant in the mind for years then something brings it out again in vivid images.
Interesting these recurring dreams we have, something that is needed yet not quite ready to impart. I believe it is the striving, the choice to climb those stairs that is important, and through this all life opens when we are ready to understand why. Lovely piece, with a profound message of purpose in life. Great work Phyllis.
Thank you very much, Tony. I think you are right, the choice to climb the stairs. That relates to my desire to seek better wisdom, to keep learning. Thanks again. Take care.
Fascinating and most creative poetry. Seeking something which has always been inside of yourself which in time you had to realize but not over some threshold. I have also had some recurring dreams and I too have finally come to certain conclusions within myself and those dreams have gone away.
It is fascinating, Rasma, how such dreams lead us to look within and find our truths. Thank you for the great comment. Glad you related and enjoyed, I appreciate it.