Doors

“Steps and Doors” by Beverly Menke

 

too many doors
unaccustomed to thresholds
he hesitates
too young to learn from the past
too smart to trust the future

Bildungsroman

Emblem of The Bildungsroman Project

catholic catechist
landing the lessons of faith
upon adolesced ears
sacramental instruction
ritual secrets revealed
doctrine drawn upon
still pristine canvas
charts limned with the
ancient laid paths to salvation

a boy on new knees in old pews
turning round in his mind
the curricular scripture
the sacred traditions
the solemn-most teachings
of rote magisterium
blessings of knowledge
his father’s blunt questions
his mother’s devotions

new minted emergent adult
pulls away from his grace
carries into a secular world
an agnostic propensity
walking a wilderness
three decades deep
come to find on the other side
peace with a boyhood religion
still holding his soul in its hands