He Opened the Door and Went on His Way

Poem Ballade Form (Chanson) — Escape

He silently stirred his coffee

And looked out the bedroom window

Sat for a moment just wondering

If he were gone who would ever know

Would he be any more than an endnote

In anyone’s book of the day

So he put on his best winter coat

Opened the door and went on his way

As the sun fell down in the evening

And the vapors arose like smoke

Over the dock cross the landing

Moving in waves with each stroke

Of an old battered oar as the boat

Rocked slowly and gently away

He followed the call of the crows

Turned down the river and went on his way

When the others awoke in the morning

The cabin lay covered in snow

Not a trace that a life had been stirring

And patches of ice slowed the flow

Til it was frozen fast on the boats

Left carelessly on the lake

No one could loosen the ropes

Soon defeated they went on their way

It was long past noon when they spoke

Someone then noticed and said

Where did we hang the old man’s coat

He will need it when we go on our way

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Originally posted on Medium on January 15, 2022