The Locked Room Poem by Rajiv Pande

The Locked Room
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There is a place inside you
That you never visit
Like a room in your house
Forever locked
But sometimes you hear sounds coming from that room
Strange lights that glow and dance through the sliver of space below the door
Are you afraid to go there?
You don't know
Life goes on as usual
Nothing seems too off
The pieces of the puzzle fit together neatly
And that is satisfying to you
But sometimes the noises from that locked room get really loud and screamy
You cover your ears and go about your life
Absent to those around you
Who wonder why you can't hear them
Until the noises stop
And you're back among us
As if nothing happened
But we know
We know how you vanish into yourself at times
And we skirt around you tentatively
Until you're back
And laugh with relief
Where do you go?
Do the noises drown your consciousness?
Do the lights fascinate you
And make you hold your breath till you are blue?
Go open that door
You must open that door because what's inside is also you.
No strange things there
Just the same old familiar you
That you cast away years ago
Go open that door
And become whole again
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