PROMISES

Promises are shadows,
Clouds from which no rain falls;
Gardens where no flowers bloom,
Empty room echoes bouncing
off bare walls.

Promises are pillows
That soften goodbyes;
Comforting things to hold onto,
And muffle our cries.

Promises are dreams
We believe will come true
But, more often than not,
They never do.

Promises are good intentions,
Fantasies we create;
But no matter how hard we try,
Broken promises good intentions negate.

A promise that's kept
Is something so rare;
So don't promise you'll love me
Or always be there.

Don't promise me picnics
Or walks beneath a full moon;
Don't promise me carefree days
Or that things will be better soon.

Don't promise me laughter;
It comes from my own soul.
Don't promise me forever;
Your life cannot make mine whole.

Tell me the truth -
No more and no less;
With no promises made
There's nothing to confess.

Take each day as it comes;
Experience the joys life brings;
Don't cling to false hopes,
A promise is one of those things.

Then my heart won't be shattered
When a promise you've broken
Because one of those
Will have never been spoken.

So don't make me promises,
On my ears they fall flat;
If you do nothing else,
Please promise me that!

© 1998 Wendi Buckley