The attempt to knock remained on the finger, meaning the speaker's hesitation prevented the knock from reaching the door. The poet wishes that no closed door or person behind it should ever show such reluctance or shyness to open up.

This beautiful couplet talks about the dilemma of hesitation. It paints a picture of someone who comes to a closed door, intending to knock, but stops short. The phrase 'knocks remained in the finger' suggests that the action was almost taken, but ultimately held back. The poet laments that such hesitation should never allow a door to stay shut. It's a gentle reminder that often, our own shyness or reluctance prevents us from taking that crucial first step. It urges us to overcome our inhibitions, because the opportunity to connect or achieve something might just be a knock away, and hesitation can be a silent barrier.