Promises Break

Promises break like straw under foot,

Brittle, bending, crumbling under slightest weight,

No longer bound to man’s word.

Instead they are simply words of convenience,

Placating the concerned,

Enveloping those amongst the unconvinced.

Like sheep are these believers,

Led about by their staff laden necks,

Given sustenance just to hush their words.

No longer is honor a cornerstone,

A pillar of trust, as valued as a kings ransom,

Degraded, they are nothing but syllables, hollow and meaningless.

Yes, they may be voiced with a smile,

A handshake if the orator is so moved,

Yet sadly these have become standard props for their theatrics.

When did this happen,

When did the worth of a man become worthless,

When did men cower to pretense?

Maybe always, maybe of recent past, maybe today,

Knowing they are played like the strings of a mandolin,

But unable to reconcile their buffoonery.

One day the blinders may be lifted from impaired eyes,

Revealing the wolf cloaked in statesmen’s fashion,

Only then might shame resurrect us.

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

 

Comments

12 responses to “Promises Break”

  1. gdalexander Avatar

    Beautiful poem; elegantly and carefully written. Thanks for sharing. I will follow your blog and return to read more, for sure.

    I have a new writing blog that I created after self-publishing my first novel for the Kindle. Please check it out and share your writing experiences with me!
    http://gdalexander.wordpress.com/
    -G.D.

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      Thank you very much for the nice comments, I most certainly will visit your blog as well. Thanks again, I really appreciate yo stopping by.

  2. melodylowes Avatar

    Strong words. They speak of a profound dissatisfaction with ‘the system’ – a desire for more than lip service. I think you speak for all of us on some level.

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      Thank you Melody. I wrote this originally with politics in mind, but then though that this very same problem exists extensively outside of the political arena. How many times have friends, family or acquaintances broken promises to us?

      1. melodylowes Avatar

        Unfortunately, too many. Yes, I’d say it has a wider range of appeal than politics, although it works very well for that as well.

  3. Yoshiko Avatar

    We nominate you Liebster Blog Award. Please check it at http://daylighttune.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/liebster-blog-award-2/ :-)

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      Thank you very much for the nomination, I really appreciate it. :)

      1. Yoshiko Avatar

        Welcome, Dom :-)

  4. jrosenberry1 Avatar

    This is very powerful.

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      Thank you Jen. :)

  5. WB Avatar

    Heavy words, excellent piece.

    1. Dom DiFrancesco Avatar

      Thanks WB. :)

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