December 2nd, 2025
“Kock no More” - Video Reading and Musical Accompaniment by Ritagail B
This poem and painting isn’t only for myself, I offer it, no matter your age (I'm 64), to any dear person who has wanted to "fit in" but never quite do because you've never lost (or perhaps you've found), or maybe even felt ashamed of, that "childlike" vision given to us by our Dear Lord Jesus Christ, you know the One who maddeningly says "Don't Be Afraid"(several places), and in some translations "Be Of Good Cheer" (John 16:34 and Acts 23:11).
Knock No More
By Ritagail Burleson
"How long,"
He asked me,
"Will you stare at that
Closed
Door?"
Until my hope
That they'll open it
Doesn't burn my heart
Anymore?
And He just
Stood there
Holding open the Gate
To the Tree of Life.
As I stared
At the closed door,
From the corner
Of my eyes
I saw:
A wolf and a lamb,
A leopard and goat-kid,
An ox and a lion,
A cow and a bear,
All walking through
The Gate
As if they had no care,
No slight reason each other
To fear.
And He laughed
Like a child,
His hair twinkling
Like a star.
"Coming?" He asked.
They don't believe me!
I shouted at Him
From the closed door afar.
"No," He said,
His smile waned,
"They don't believe me
Either--
No matter what I say."
Silence, except for the
Loud
Contented purrs
As the lion munched hay.
"Coming?" He asked
Me--
Insignificant me--
Once more.
And I turned
To see the Star
And the Tree
And All That Could Be...
And I abandoned
That
Closed
Door.