A Promise Poem by Hazel Durham

A Promise

Rating: 4.7


The evening light is fading,
Across the wide expanse of green pastures,
Shimmering in the last splendour
Of the day,

Pools of reflective shadows,
As if holding his inferno of pain,
Losing his dream, a cushion in his heart,
His best part,

Facing the truth that he had been told a lie,
A kick that left his heart to die,
In the fading light,
Just left with memories of once a sun so bright,

He has worked so hard,
In the life he loves,
The white dove has flown away,
To find the real sunlight of each day.

The will has been read,
And with a stroke of a pen,
He is struck down into oblivion,
After a lifetime of sweat and toil.

The evening light is fading,
As he listens to the noisy starlings,
They awaken him to reality,
Of losing his powerful voice that sings.

He lies awake on lonely nights,
Too devastated to fight,
But he makes himself a promise,
He will find a different light,

Sing to an easier tune,
He will become immune,
To the lifelong lie,
As he looks up at the black sky,

Highlighted by the stars and moon,
He is left with a few acres and the house,
It has all happened too soon,
The moon glows vividly with confidence and belief,

He knows he has to forget the theif,
He will look forward to a softer light,
A mellow glow,
About him forgetting and letting go.

Monday, August 18, 2014
Topic(s) of this poem: lies
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
This is about a man who was told all his life he would inherit the farm, that he alone had worked on, but when the will was read it was left to all his siblings, he was left with just a few acres and the house.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Chinedu Dike 02 September 2014

A lovely story well articulated by a good poet. I love it. Keep it up.

1 0 Reply
Amitava Sur 27 August 2014

A lovely story with a sad ending with breach of trust but still he moves forward forgetting the thief.... its beautifu

0 0 Reply
Lyn Paul 23 August 2014

Excellent words Hazel. Your talent and your heart are incredible. Yet an extremely sad story, amazing he manage to forget THe Thief. Great work again Thank You

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Kanav Justa 21 August 2014

.. trusting someone for the promise that thry make. then when you get cheated... the pain that follows from the broken promise is way too much.. the pain is beautifully expressed in your poem...

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Dinesan Madathil 20 August 2014

Rich in images and brilliant in rendering this poem reminds most of us of the true life of many a labouring person who paves the way for his siblings. I have seen many fathers who toiled till the eve of their lives only to find themselves desperately thrown out of the extended joys their hard earned wealth or material possessions could actually have given them! Let this disillusioned and worn out man seek shelter in stoic philosophy or as Valsa madam has said it, let him be contented with what he is left with, Hazel. A poem that deserves a 10.

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Kumarmani Mahakul 13 September 2018

A sad story based on injustice and cheating has been so touchingly and incisively delineated. Beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing.10

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Mizzy ........ 12 September 2016

Nothing should be taken for granted.......This is a fine honest write Hazel.....I could feel your energy in the words......Life can be so unpredictable!

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Such a moving and well written poem. Great work Hazel.

1 0 Reply
Jak Black 05 November 2014

Another good write Hazel. A sad tale but these examples of selfishness and greed seem to be cropping up all too often in this day and age.

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Akhtar Jawad 28 October 2014

Very sad story, it happens in our society too. I have seen a few movies with this theme. Sacrifices and fatigues were ignored. The law of inheritance played its role. A question remains, are we made for the laws or the laws are made for us! ...............10

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