"The Door of Dreams, A Reflection on Opportunity and Self-Discovery

Enter the door of dreams

The Door of Dreams
by Jessie Belle Rittenhouse

I often passed the Door of Dreams
But never stepped inside,
Though sometimes, with surprise, I saw
The door was open wide.

I might have gone forever by,
As I had done before,
But one day, when I passed, I saw
You standing in the door.

In "The Door of Dreams" by Jessie Belle Rittenhouse, we are invited to delve into a deeply introspective and almost ethereal exploration of opportunity, self-discovery, and choices. The poem unfolds through a central metaphor of the door, a powerful symbol for dreams and untapped potential. The speaker often encounters the door but hesitates to enter. The door symbolizes unexplored life possibilities. In the opening stanza, the speaker reveals that he frequently encounters this Door of Dreams but never ventures inside.

This pattern of hesitation may suggest a reluctance to step into the unknown or pursue desires that seem out of reach. However, there are moments when the door is unexpectedly open, showing that the dream is within immediate reach. The surprise of finding the door wide open underscores the suddenness and unexpected immediacy of such opportunities.

The speaker hesitated at the open door, implying missed chances or a fear of the unknown. The reflection in the second stanza is more profound. The speaker confesses that he could have continued passing by the door, as he had done many times before. Yet, a crucial difference emerges this time: a person in the doorway. The person standing in the doorway alters the poet's experience.

Others' presence suggests the speaker's connection to their dreams and reluctance. The moment of seeing "you" in the door symbolizes a turning point. It means the influence of another important person who opens the speaker's eyes to the potential they have overlooked. Dreams are more reachable with the encouragement of others.

The "Door of Dreams" symbolizes unused opportunities due to fear, indecision, or habit. The action remains incomplete as the speaker omits the final act, leaving an open-ended conclusion like the poem's door.

The poem invites us to think about our lives and the doors we pass by without stepping through. The poem is an essay about opportunities and our awareness of such opportunities, especially with others. It encourages us to think about our relationship with dreams, missed chances, and people who may influence us to accept what we have long avoided.