The Door
Go and open the door.
maybe outside there’s a tree,or a wood,
a garden,
or a magic city.
Go and open the door.
Maybe a dog’s rummaging
Maybe you’ll see a face,
or and eye,
or a picture
of a picture.
Go and open the door.
Even if there’s only
the darkness ticking,
even if there’s only
the hollow wind.
even if
nothing
is there
Go and open the door.
at least
there’ll be
a draught.
By Miroslav Holub
The Door
Through the poem ‘The Door’ Miroslav Holub suggests at the heart of any discovery an individual must be prepared to take action and that the action has many possibilities,including failure.Holub shows this through using a demanding voice,simple structure and language that creates an engaging and encouraging poem for a wide audience.
If an individual wants change,to grow and to initiate a discovery of any type,especially Self they must be prepared to take action according to Holub.Of this 5 stanza poem, 4 of the stanzas start with precisely ‘Go and open the door.” coupled with a demanding voice this emphasises that persistence is key in pursuing an action.The tone of the perspective of this poem is demanding and forceful “Go and open the door”Using this voice suggests that it is a wise person maybe with experiences which further encourage the reader to go and open their own door.Holub uses contrast on the door as two levels.Firstly he suggests quite simply that a door can be used as a physical gateway to a new world. “ Go and open the door,at least they’ll be a draught” “ maybe outside there’s a tree,or a wood,a garden,or a magic city.”Secondly as a metaphorical opening,forcing the reader to think of the possibilities.This shows Holub is successful at representing the door as a psychological barrier and a physical barrier.This line draws on the importance of the opening of the door,the beginning action.
Another important point of discovery Holub draws on is that discovery may have failure or disappointment. Holub uses Contrast to define the importance of the starting action compared to the possibilities The first line/states ‘go and open the door’ at the start of every stanza.Which is forceful and persistent he then contrasts this with the lists and uncertainty which are reinforced by the use of uncertain words such as “maybe” and “even” .Holub gives a range of examples of the possibilities such as positive “maybe outside there’s a tree,or a wood,a garden,or a magic city.” Ordinary Life “Maybe a dog’s rummaging Maybe you’ll see a face, or and eye, or a picture of a picture.” Or The failure,disappointed and nothingness some discoveries can encompass “Even if there’s only the darkness ticking,even if there’s only the hollow wind.even if nothingis there” And finally Holub shows that some discoveries,can just offer a new perspective “Go and open the door.at least there’ll be a draught.”Holub has used the certainty of the voice in the first line contrasted against the uncertainty of the possibilities which further reinforces the importances of the action,and that the result itself as much as the importacne of continually taking action and seeking new discoveries.
One similarity between the two texts is that Holub emphasises that in order to make any discovery, persistent action must be taken- ‘Go and open the door’. Che Guevara is a living example of that suggestion as he ‘opens his own doors on the plight of the poor in South America. A major difference between the two texts is that Holub’s simple yet very broad based poem reaches out to all individuals stressing the importance of persistent action to initiate change even though failure may result ‘At least there will be a draught.’ The Motorcycle Diaries on the other hand provide a very personal account of an individual’s discovery in a specific sociopolitical context.
Discovery 