Ah Promises...Promises! Poem by Dónall Dempsey

Tells me...
when she grows up

that she will marry me.

Begs me to wait
for her forever

not to marry
anyone else ever.

Because she’s six
I say “Yes! ”
to please her.

It pleases her.

“Promise? ”
“Promise! ”

She says “I do! ”
I say “I do! ” too.

She goes to bed
happy with her teddy.

“But in 2002
I will be 46
all old & wrinkly! ”

Tears well
in her eyes.

They glisten
as she tells me:

“Don’t be silly!
You’re all old & wrinkly now

and...and...I still love you! ”

I’m won over by her
logic, honestly & devotion.

Ah, but the years are cruel!

When the appointed
year comes to be

I returned to find her

a newly married
mother

doting over her
newest son.

I remind her of her
promise.

She laughs & says:

”No, I...never! ”