Promise Me Slow

Promises are oaths. Oaths are not to be broken, or replaced when they are.

Promise me “no";
Promise me “never";
Promise me slow,
Promise “forever".

Keep your word tight,
Keep your word true -
Every promise made right,
I’ve made to you.

Promise me to days we lost
And days we’ll live
And days we tossed
And days affinitive.

Promise me to each curl
And our first dance
To our first twirl
And now our last chance.

Promise me on something
But it has to matter.
Please, promise on anything,
Anything, but mindless chatter.

Words not meant for ears,
Tears not meant for eyes;
Pain not even meant for tears,
Oaths not meant to be lies.

This is all I’ve had
For rest or work or both -
You swore for good and bad.
You made a promise. An oath.

It was supposed to mean something.
You swore that it held meaning.
Our first song, first kiss - anything.
I was dirty. You were cleaning.

That song - did you like it?
That dance - did you remember?
That kiss - did you want it?
That flame… is just an ember.

I was clinging to a trace.

You promised it was a fire.
The wood’s not in the fireplace
Your promises expire.

Promised “forever",
Promised me slow.
Meant to me “never";
Meant to me “no".

Reviews

[richom]

Full of truth and wonderfully written. Broken promises are the bane of human relationships. I also admire the rhyming (it is the only type of poetry I write), although the "affinitive" rhyme seems a bit forced, at least to my ears. I look forward to more of your poems.

[Authoress]

It wasn't my original choice of wording for the line, so I agree, 'affinitive' does sound very forced. Thank you!

[Joe]

I thoroughly enjoyed this reading, as you put a lot of emotion into the stanzas. It is a job well done!

[Authoress]

Thank you very, very much!