strangers made
acquaintances

passing through me

in
and
out

changing my
interior

leaving me
in disarray.

they bring friends
of theirs
sometimes

only to take them
back again

walls like every other

what happens remains
unspoken of yet

my door is always
open

Rights & Access

This poem was submitted for the "Poetry for the Mind's Joy" project and is reproduced here with permission from the author. All rights reserved. Poetry for the Mind's Joy is Poet Laureate Kay Ryan's project that includes a community college poetry contest administered by the Community College Humanities Association and a lively videoconference.
  • Nevada Inocencio

    Sierra College, Rocklin, CA

    Faculty Advisor: Andrea Neptune, Professor of English