The Promise

Often now when in a contemplative mood
 Relaxing with not a care
 Suddenly recalling a promise
 An innocent, spur of the moment promise
 made on an intimate occasion long ago

 A promise made in jest
 made in the heat of passion
 No real intent of actually seeing it to fruition
 A promise made nevertheless

 A promise
 Hollow, shallow, superficial
 Disturbing to me, now
 A promise haunting me all these years

 A promise attempt to make light of it, laughing at it
 denying it, ridiculing the idea of it
 Binding me ?

 Thinking of the promise, thoughts swelling inside
 Bursting at brain seams
 Pushing me, pulling me, pressuring me
 to keep my promise, to you.