I reached the age of open doors
It was the time to choose
After years of thoughtful mentors
Whose advice should I use?
Door one revealed a scene sublime
Flowery, peaceful, green
The sun had just begun its climb
O’er this idyllic scene
Enticing sunrise pink and blue
The dawn of a brand new day
I stopped myself from stepping through
And looked the other way
A smell came from the second door
Putrid, foul, rank
I looked and saw things I abhor
My heart within me shrank
I knew at once where I must go —
Stepped past the lintel post
And entered not where flowers grow
But where I was needed most.
This is my response to this week’s W3 challenge where Poet of the Week Yvette M. Calleiro prompts us to create a poem that explores a fictional world—utopian or dystopian, your choice. This world must be wholly imagined and not reflect the current reality we live in. Let your imagination run freely.
- Use 20 lines or fewer.
- Write about a fictional utopian or dystopian world.
- Do not portray the current state of our world in your poem.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
I too saw this utopian/ dystopian possibility with an element of choice involved. But I took a bit of a more selfish route, I think. Loved this- where you ended up.
Thanks for your kind words, Violet.
DId you already write your utopian/ dystopian post? I looked it and and couldn’t find it!
That foul odor got me. I think I’d chose the easy door at this point.
I was trying to think of a way to communicate how bad the place was in a few words as possible, and a bad smell seemed the best way to do that
It worked!
Life here or in some dystopian/utopian universe is still all about choices. I think there is so much value in making improvements. A choice that is selfless and valid. Not much to do if everything is already perfection!
As I read this it brought to mind “A Christmas Carol’ and Dickens visit of the ghosts (past, and future) and that we all have a choice in life to make the world better. Nice write.
I love the weighing up and the choice you made …. 💞
I loved your poem, Sally! The option to choose was a wonderful way to take the prompt. Thank you for participating this week!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thanks,Yvette!
Sally, I really admire the moment “I knew at once where I must go,” because it shows a brave choice to walk toward what’s hard instead of what’s easy.
~David
‘…I knew at once where I must go —
Stepped past the lintel post
And entered not where flowers grow
But where I was needed most.’
Loved this poem, Sally.
hi, Sally❣️
Just wanna let you know that this week’s W3, hosted by our beloved Dawn, is live until Monday:
Much love,
David