The title of this door
he knew quite well
for it is a day that
he has not truely celebrated
for quite some time
the momentous day
that he entered this world
he stood there watching in awe
as he saw his parents
as they were then
so young, so full of hope
anticipating the new life
that they had created together
he heard the screams of his mother
felt her pain from within as she
struggled to bring forth
her one and only son
his father by her side
holding her hand
wiping her brow
taking the abusive words
she flung at him in stride
then it happened
and he took his first breath
the shrill cries filled the room
as he voiced his displeasure
at his interrupted slumber
at his tearing from security
when the nurse placed him
in his mothers arms
He saw his parents share a look
that he had seen so many times before
yet never so filled with so much
love as it was now.
he could feel the tenderness
in his mothers embrace
and the completeness
of finally being a family
the man he had become
never realized how wonderful
this could truely be
he looked once more
on the picture before him
and missed his family more
then he had since he began
this quest for knowledge
turning away towards the door again
the maternity ward nurse
caught his eye and he looked up
she was waiting for him it seemed
she smiled and handed him a small package
with shaky hands he took what she offered
cradling it carefully
he continued to the door
back to the hallway
he turned and looked inside again
as the door slowly shut
to witness this most momentous day
one last time
then it closed and he was alone
once more on the outside of the door.
remembering the package
he slowly removed the tissue paper
within, he found a bracelet
tiny, plastic, and faded with time
peering closely, he could just make out
the names of his parents
an identity bracelet
the same one he must have worn
after he was born, before he was taken home
he clutched it to his chest
and silently cried
cherishing this keepsake
of a day that until now
he had only heard stories about
leaning against the door to his birth
he thought of his parents
of their love for him
and for each other
a love that transcended everything else
he wept for a time until he felt he could continue
when he was calm once again
he moved on to the next door