The Promised Museum

Post

“My promises are as good as gold.”

Fool’s gold,

It sits in display cases

Only for the truly desperate

To play “spot the difference”

Between a promise and a lie

One and the same

“I won’t tell anyone.”

Glass structures and sharp stones

Promises and secrets to keep away

Shatter in a moment

Robbed without a second thought

Empty shells and crystal shards await

Don’t let the rose tint fool you

Pretty words painted over with fine colors

But underneath is there anything at all?

“It will never happen again.”

Enter the gilt doors

And never leave again

Lie after lie

It happens again easily enough

Tracking regret and remorse onto the spotless floor

“I’ll finish it tonight.”

So you wait At the edge

It never arrives

Time waits for no promises

Left unopened and trampled underfoot

A hollow, fragile museum that needs rebuilding

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Published February 8, 2021

Written by Yilin Tan