The Repetition by Liz Franzone (21, Florida)

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.” - Revelations 3:20

Back and forth,
                 
                 It is another summer day,
                 and my cycle begins again.

Why was I so convinced that the world was ending?

---

                 I run to the front door
                 and look out the peephole.

Why did I believe that Revelation was on its way?

                I run back to my bedroom until
                I convince myself He’s finally arrived.

The Good Book did say that when He knocks,

                My little brother screams at me
                  from the living room sofa.
                
He would visit our homes and dine with us.

                He begs me to stop running to the door.
                He tells me that I’m scaring him.

If we really are in Revelation times--

                  My legs shake from running,
                   yet I refuse to stop.

Then this is an opportunity I can’t afford to miss.

                 I cannot afford to lose my vigilance.
                 If I stop waiting, then He won’t come.

I don’t want to be left behind. Not by Him.

                At 3PM, my thirteen-year-old legs collapse
                onto my bed, air rapidly filling and leaving my lungs.

                And for the first time all day, I stop.

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