The Forgotten Room

In the basement of the old house

where we’d lived for many years,

I found a secret door

to a room I’d never seen before.

Several life-sized dolls were “living” there

seated at a candlelit table

for who knows how long,

like a silent family, entombed.

They stared above bare plates and silverware.

The light flickered on their faces.

As if they’d long expected me,

they stared at me, but never moved.

This was my welcome to the forgotten room.