the promise

somewhere along the way
s/he lost track of themselves---
perhaps it was because they had been
hurt before & swore to never go into
anything full swing again,
or perhaps it was out of a genuine
dislike of themselves---
either way, the passion was there in the
beginning
(as it always is),
and with it came the words---
words that seem to come naturally
even though they are said by the same people
to different people
a thousand times before our death
words that fill the air with new life & energy
when they first appear again
words that coax us with comfort like the
inevitable calm before the coming storm &
finally those same words that cut like razorblades
& streak down the blackboard simultaneously
with horror movie violins creaking & clanging
in the furthest regions of our heads
when everything falls apart.

there was a promise promulgated in that sea
of first flowering words
a promise that no matter how much it is exemplified on
television or in films for its dramatic purpose,
always seems to con someone under its wing---
this promise that one of the passionate two
would eventually leave their spouse for the other
this promise that the affection that at present was being
hidden behind closed doors
would someday be able to flourish amongst the public world
with all of the boisterous spontaneity of a real health
relationship,
free of any guilt that the two might be feeling
while they worked their magic behind the back(s)
of those that they already had made promises to.

and yet as the early bliss of love turns into the
neurological disease of which it can seem to fester as
all the other moments of life with a person who no longer
interests the other party,
like rotting milk
it’s stink fills the room &
inevitably the apology begins---
long & drawn out with too many words that are all saying the
same thing---
it is over.

one of the promisers didn’t pass the litmus test &
so the less guilty goes back to their spouse
honoring that ridiculous charade that is known as
marriage &
the guilty party
now dumped by the person that they were having an affair with
walks back out into the world
with a feeling that they were not even good enough
for someone who is already married.