The Door

The green woman from my dream
handed me an ax, told me to break
down the door. I held the ax limply,
hesitating. Break down the door,
she insisted, an overbite to her tone,
this time adding the word goddamn.
Break down the goddamned door.
I lifted the ax, froze.
Her voice softened, a testimonial caressing
of my cold skin, as she assured–
There are no demons in there,
I swear.
What you’re going to find
is what you really fear most.
I knew what she meant, what
wasn’t waiting for me on the other side,
what I feared.
I dropped the ax and walked away,
the green woman’s disappointment trailing behind.
Some fables, you see,
remain unfinished,
especially the ones in which
failure is an option.
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About John Biscello

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, writer, poet, performer, and playwright, John Biscello, has lived in the high-desert grunge-wonderland of Taos, New Mexico since 2001. He is the author of four novels, Broken Land, a Brooklyn Tale, Raking the Dust, Nocturne Variations, and No Man’s Brooklyn; a collection of stories, Freeze Tag, two poetry collections, Arclight and Moonglow on Mercy Street; and a fable, The Jackdaw and the Doll, illustrated by Izumi Yokoyama. He also adapted classic fables, which were paired with the vintage illustrations of artist, Paul Bransom, for the collection: Once Upon a Time, Classic Fables Reimagined. His produced, full-length plays include: LOBSTERS ON ICE, ADAGIO FOR STRAYS, THE BEST MEDICINE, ZEITGEIST, U.S.A., and WEREWOLVES DON’T WALTZ.
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1 Response to The Door

  1. An overbite to her tone ❤️

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