Ballad

Promise sits not far from me
never really that far from me
her welcome glance stained by tears
an accepted sadness, accented
by her melancholy smile
crinkling, sculpted eyebrows
dare to meet each other, just halfway
and at least to me, it always
seems the sun is setting in her eyes
she wants for a better answer
just a chance at something great
at home, promise is a four-letter word
a prophet without following
a household term, short for "not yet"
in her native tongue it translates
"you better have a back-up plan"
promise, an anagram spelling
"be happy with what you have"
"your second choice"
she sits, unassuming checking her watch
as the minutes travel across her face
silent, biding for a train of thought
to carry her, far away from here
looking off into space
over an unincorporated landscape
blurring the road that would take her
from point A to point L, M, N, O, P
she expects the clouds to part any day now
for Perfect, thee perfect opportunity
to start walking, or maybe...
just until Patience finds her
until he holds her hand
cradles it in his palm, in the warmth
of his fingers
Patience wants nothing more than to
see her laugh
because she IS his better answer
a chance at something great
just listen as he whispers this to her
in short and measured breaths
careful not to say too much
to hurry any meaning, to risk losing it
Patience knows it will take time
A quick start will burn just as quickly
he nudges her gently in steady rock
assuring, confident of her beautiful strength
her spirited promise
and while the chatter surrounds
murmurs of how blind he is, rumors
Patience falls deaf, his chosen handicap
don't ever believe in what you hear
believe in what you see, his motto intact
and right now, he sees Promise
believes in only her
seeing them together serves to lighten any mood
as unrealistic as that sounds
and I wonder, can it be enough
how much longer will it keep
before she runs off in fear to something faster
before he loses sight of her potential
before they settle for hearts
not too broken
Promise and Patience
are they enough to keep each other alive
pain is tolerable the more you get used to it
everyone's second choice
also called "this isn't so bad"
and watch Patience smile
as he sits not far from her
never really that far from her
happy with Promise
happy that he loves her
and that will have to be enough
Patience waits...
he waits for Promise