Holding the door

Door in the trees
(Image by ejharaldseid)   Permission   Details   DMCA

I watched a man whipping an apple tree.

I held the door open to him.

I knew that when he got tired

he would turn around and see me

holding the door for him.

And maybe he would come inside and we could talk.

I could see that many of the trees in his orchard

bore the scars of the whippings

they had received over the years.

Some of the older trees were bent over and knotted

as if riddled with pain.

Finally he turned around.

Who are you? he asked.

I am your door-man, I said.

I never saw you before, or that door.

Has that ever helped, I asked?