Photo by Maksym Kaharlytski
A Deadbolt on the Inside
Lizzie Ferguson
The gate to our backyard has a deadbolt on the inside
That has slowly become more misaligned over time.
Because of the jam, it takes at least six attempts
for me to turn it, six heartbeats of panic,
six seconds of feeling trapped until
I hear the creak-click-crack of
the metal-smile, satisfied
to have found it's mate
in the turnkey.
When I return inside,
sticky from the juices that slid
down the recycling bin,
My partner asks
If I have noticed the
back gate has been getting stuck?
Yes I noticed,
I reassure him,
but there's a trick to it.
Well, what is it?
He replies, always hopeful
For a solution
Oh, I don’t know the trick
I correct him.
But there must be a trick to it
we can’t possibly be stuck like this
forever
Lizzie Ferguson
The gate to our backyard has a deadbolt on the inside
That has slowly become more misaligned over time.
Because of the jam, it takes at least six attempts
for me to turn it, six heartbeats of panic,
six seconds of feeling trapped until
I hear the creak-click-crack of
the metal-smile, satisfied
to have found it's mate
in the turnkey.
When I return inside,
sticky from the juices that slid
down the recycling bin,
My partner asks
If I have noticed the
back gate has been getting stuck?
Yes I noticed,
I reassure him,
but there's a trick to it.
Well, what is it?
He replies, always hopeful
For a solution
Oh, I don’t know the trick
I correct him.
But there must be a trick to it
we can’t possibly be stuck like this
forever