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 ~~
Dom DiFrancesco 
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
We nominate you Liebster Blog Award. Please check it at http://daylighttune.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/liebster-blog-award-2/ :-)
Thank you very much for the nomination, I really appreciate it. :)
Welcome, Dom :-)
This is very powerful.
Thank you Jen. :)
Heavy words, excellent piece.
Thanks WB. :)