The Third Door

A duet song/poem on the social stigma and rejection faced by ex-convicts when they're released. They deserve a second chance, just like everyone else...

The Third Door

Him: It's been years since I saw you smile

And the chasm spans for miles and miles

And though the steel door opens wide

I hesitate

Her: I've spent all these painful years

With grief, regret and many tears

And though you're coming home, for us, it could

Be too late

Both: Full of sorrow and heartbroken

Of a thousand words unspoken

So I hope and pray for a better day

Though the light is getting closer

Yet I'm still feeling so lonesome

As my silent world is turning ever gray

And though the darkness rages on I pray

For the sun to shine someday

Him: It's been years since I saw you laugh

As I walk this empty path

And everyone glares at me

Like I'm still bad

No job, no one offers me a post

Though I'm needing one the most

Let everyone stare at me

'Cause I've lost all I've had

Both: Full of sorrow and heartbroken

Of a thousand words unspoken

So I hope and pray for a better day

Though the light is getting closer

Yet I'm still feeling so lonesome

As my silent world is turning ever gray

And though the darkness rages on I pray

For the sun to shine someday

Her: My tears, so fluidly, they run

As I remember what you've done

But I know you're truly sorry now

Now you're here with me

So now we can start anew

For the perfect life, me and you

As the second door comes crashing down

Now we finally see

Him: With bloodshot eyes I pray

The third door will open someday

And the world takes us back 

With open arms

Her: Second chances in this life

Why are they so hard to find?

So I pray that you and me

Come to no harm

Both: Full of sorrow and heartbroken

Of a thousand words unspoken

So I hope and pray for a better day

Though the light is getting closer

Yet I'm still feeling so lonesome

As my silent world is turning ever gray

And though the darkness rages on I pray

For the sun to shine someday

Author's Note

If you didn't get this one, the doors are literal and figurative obstacles in acceptance of the ex-convict in the community.
First door: the literal prison door
Second door: loved ones
Third door: the rest of the world
Inspired by a newspaper article I read, about a songwriting competition for ex-convicts...

Reviews

[HorrorMaster]

Very good

[Huggy Bear]

fantastic piece:)

[trainwreck]

Oh, so true. I love that you explain everything in case someone doesn't get it. Anyway, these songs are well written, and I can hear them in my head. Another great write you got here.

[A.Lee]

This is amazing. I agree so wholeheartedly. Everyone deserves their second chance, but people are so unwilling to give them one. How can a person create a better life for himself if he's never given the opportunity? Driven by dire need, so many released convicts end up stealing or going back to drugs, why? Because they have no other way to make ends meet. Everyone refuses to give them the chance. Then they just shake their heads when the person ends up in jail again because that third door never opened and the only way to go was backwards. Very strong, and sadly very true poem. Excellent work.

[underwriter]

very good. i like how you wrote this as a duet. it makes the song come alive and make it more 'real' and empahic. good write!

[PrincessZeldaWannabe]

Really good! I love the two voices!

[Linear]

It's all been said, well worked

[Matt Pellegrini]

Very unique and cool concept. I like the idea, but I think what you specifically did with it and made out of it is why it is so good.

I definitely read it as a song/duet more so then a poem. Just the parts with one character, then another, then both, seemed very operatic or like a song from a musical.

I found the line, "And the world takes 'us' back," interesting. Since the line specifies "us" and not just "me." And the theme of second chances is a really powerful and strong theme to go with.

Personally, I think there's quite an interesting larger story here surrounding the song/poem. If you write fiction, I'd definitely look into what you have here and consider a larger story. The ideas, themes, and feelings here can just be so big and expanded on so much.

[Marie Harrison]

This is beautiful. What insight you have to such feelings and circumstances. I could really hear this as a song too! Very lovely snow!

[Charles]

Nicely done... the him/her format seems to work well here (so often it fails). There is a lot of repetition in the stanzas - I guess that works well enough for songs. I do think, though, that the word 'now' is a bit overdone in the fifth stanza. Good work.