promises made
written somewhere
on lost papers
in the saltwater gained
who I’d be
what I would do
how things
our lives would change
& now
they lie forgotten
just another set
of cold nights
lying alone
semi drunk prayers
drifting into dead air
for lost lovers
half-forgotten friends
sulky solemn things we say
& the promises made
driftwood & sand
on the currents of another life
our fading days
something
I said I would never do
making promises
along our way
I let go of you
tearing breaking apart
everything I’d said done
& said I would never do
you looked at me
beyond sad
beyond understanding
not the person
you thought I was
& that was the problem
far as I could see
I had reached out for you
too many times too often
found you not there
preoccupied inside
by your own thoughts
too far away
to come to me
I would promise
to do anything
make the changes
to suit you more
(to you & You & you)
be the man you wanted
grow up some
shave the beard
grow the beard
anything
change the style
of my clothes
wanderings
work to bring in money
move town
& only later
as the pain cleared away
those changes
would never have stuck anyway
those promises I was making
were only to stop the pain
no matter what I said
at the time
