its doors forever open

A state you must dare not enter 

    with hopes of staying,
quicksand in the marshes, and all
 

the roads leading to a castle 

    that doesn't exist.
But there it is, as promised,

with its perfect bridge above 

    the crocodiles,
and its doors forever open. 

 

[Stephen Dunn {1939-2021} 'Happiness', from Between Angels]