The Lockless Door - A poem by Robert Frost

Robert Frost - The Lockless Door

It went many years,
But at last came a knock,
And I though of the door
With no lock to lock.

I blew out the light,
I tip-toed the floor,
And raised both hands
In prayer to the door.

But the knock came again.
My window was wide;
I climbed on the sill
And descended outside.

Back over the sill
I bade a 'Come in'
To whatever the knock
At the door may have been.

So at a knock
I emptied my cage
To hide in the world
And alter with age.

Added: on December 10th, 2007 at 9:07 AM | Viewed: 17359 times | Comments and analysis of The Lockless Door by Robert Frost Comments (73)

The Lockless Door - Comments and Information
Poet: Robert Frost Poem: 44. The Lockless Door Volume: New Hampshire Year: Published/Written in 1923 Poem of the Day: Jun 24 2002 Comment 73 of 73, added on February 28th, 2008 at 10:18 AM. i like it cuz it rhymes george from United States Comment 72 of 73, added on January 25th, 2008 at 4:06 AM. The most striking line of the poem is "hide in the world," and it comes in the context of a knock from an unknown guest. I guess that Frost is writing about the relation between our inner and outer lives. He was hiding in himself at first (his house), but was called out, and yet is still hiding. Self-knowledge remains elusive whether we dwell in ourselves or in the wider world. Jon from China Comment 71 of 73, added on December 10th, 2007 at 9:07 AM. does anyone else think this poem is an extended metaphor for death?? death cannot be locked out of life, hence, the lockless door. if you look at the language at the end of the poem it can be seen as going into the ground as well all do when we die. The poem also starts out, it went many years, meaning he was old and his time was up. He blew out the light...the light symbolizes life? Let me know if this works for anyone else besides myself. ashley More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Lockless Door, has received 73 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Robert Frost with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Robert Frost Poem: 44. The Lockless Door Volume: New Hampshire Year: Published/Written in 1923 Last read: May 13 2008, 8:12PM Poem of the Day: Jun 24 2002 Viewed 17359 times. Added on December 10th, 2007 at 9:07 AM.

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