The Gatekeeper by Meg Dolan

A large tree in the middle of green woodland. Large white text reads: The Gatekeeper. Smaller text reads: Discussing disability in fairy tales and folklore.

You stand where passage falters
where answers thin
into careful language.

Nothing is denied.
Nothing is given.

Only delayed
until it resembles reason.

You call it balance.
You call it caution.
You wear it like it is clean.

Something in me turns
green
sour
nauseating
burning

a slow rising that has no language
except return
and repetition.

I measure time by it now.

You move elsewhere
rooms that close cleanly
evenings that soften
laughter that costs nothing.

But not everyone waits like this.

Not your family.
Not your daughter.
Not your mother.

They would not learn
this kind of silence
or the weight of being held
just outside relief.

Here things linger.

The body speaks
and nothing answers.
Pain repeats itself
until it becomes background.

And still you stand at the threshold
hand steady
certain

deciding
when this is enough.

Not for me.
For you.

A door never closed.
Never opened.

Crouching, kept. 
You,
stand your ground, 
- tall. 

---

About the author:
Meg is an Australian self-published new Author who has one book *Story: Reflective Poetry* (2017), and a number of poems published to journals, in which some include: *Tipton Poetry Journal* (IN); *The Sunflower Collective* (LA); *SKYLIGHT 47* (UK); *Lifelines at Dartmouth* (MA); *Nature Writing* (UK); *Eureka* (Australia); *ditch* (Canada), and others.

Meg was lucky to have positive press coverage in newspapers across the state of Queensland, and a positive written review by The Red Room Company (Australia) regarding this book which shows a reflective style of writing. Meg’s writing demonstrates elements of whimsy, transparency of feelings, abstractions, and may present as illustrative through her use of sensory and colourful words and imagery.

Meg is self-taught and formerly worked in mental health as a therapist and support person. Meg’s education and qualifications are in Counselling. Meg is now retired due to an illness and has taken to writing as an outlet.

Meg really admires and feels inspired by renowned poets local and international, such as Sam Wagan Watson, Dylan Thomas, Lord Byron, Les Murray, Clive James, Judith Wright, Dorothea Mackellar, Sylvia Plath, Ted Hughes, Yeats, Ocean Vuong, Kevin Young, Sharon Olds, Henri Cole, T.S. Eliot, Mary Oliver, Wordsworth, Jacob Polley — and many of the Bloodaxe Book poets.