The Door Had Opened Wide
By Paul H. Kogel

I stood before life’s final door,
And held it open for a while.
It was a cold and bitter light,
That flooded my soul that night.

I feared for a moment, but not for too long,
I feared for my unanswered questions.
I feared yet I found excitement afoot,
And smiled at my own trepidations.

Is it that I don’t know the way?
Had I fooled myself this year?
So sure I was until the day,
When parting came so near.

So sure I was that I’d be ready,
For life’s eternal way,
But when that path lay open wide,
I longed to push away.

I wept to think that it had to be,
Like this, though it was too late,
I'd choose it somewhat differently,
Would not release my life to fate.

Yet, I held it out and placed it in,
The hands of he who knew me best,
And how it must be and how it must stay,
In quiet confidence and rest.

So here I am, and glad to say,
The worst has passed before me.
Or has it only postponed its day,
For a time when I’m more free?

I don’t know how much time I have,
But I have a feeling strong indeed,
That even if it's years I have,
It won’t be long enough for me.