Promise Kept Poem by Sophia White

Trapped in a dark and clammy hole,
Pain lanced through heart and soul,
No rest, no peace, no comfort found
In walls or ceiling, air or ground.

I gnashed my teeth and ripped my hair,
Called for you, but you weren’t there.
I screamed and cursed, clawed my face,
But you had vanished without a trace.

“You promised! ” I cried, and wept and wailed.
I’d called for help – but you had failed.
In times of joy you’d walked so near,
But when pain struck you disappeared.

I ranted, I stormed, I clenched my fists,
I threatened, I lectured, and I hissed.
Then – weary and broken – I collapsed in tears,
Then – “Are you finished? ” you whispered in my ear.

And I surrendered without a word.
Too loud I’d screamed, so never heard
Your calm assurance, your soft promise
You’re still there when all’s amiss.

Then I lifted my eyes and saw your hand
Open a door to a sunlight land
And heard, “Enter, child, a promise kept.”
And I went in, and there I slept.