I took my bottle with note sealed inside
I buried it in the yard, a promise I would hide
I marked it with a rock, so I'd know just where to go
years from then I thought, when no one else would know
Unearth it I would do and begin to read my words
to see if I still felt the same or a new man might emerge
I did this I swear to you, years later and I must say
I read my note in the bottle fresh out of dirt and clay...
"I promise to love my wife, whomever she may be, and never hurt her as badly as Daddy hurts Mommy. I promise to kiss her everyday and always make her smile, and never-ever yell at her, even for a while. I'll help her with the house and cooking just the same. I promise in this bottle to never call her names."
I took the noted bottle and tossed the memory away
I realized in that moment, the boy had never really changed
Though now married and a man of twenty-five
I knew my bottled promise would stay with me
for as long as I'm alive
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Comments: 31
Thank you for your kind words. It has stayed with me that way too.
Yet, the dispiriting thing about it, is that I can easily picture my own son writing that promise (sniff, sniff)
Thank you. I'm sorry to hear that about your son. I would wish that on no child. Is everything OK now?
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Pam - You have to watch those "trying Dads". Most can't change. Ya know? Still - It's good that things have improved.
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ATTENTION - ATTENTION - ATTENTION - EVERYONE!!!
Clare - First. Let me straighten out any misconception here about my father. He did NOT beat my mother. I did not really want to get into details here, but too many people are taking my words "It happened" a little too literally. What I meant to say was that I DID make this mental note to myself. Almost in the exact wording of this "note". I did so in my mind. "It happened".
What made that happen? I was 9 years old and in our backyard in Reseda, CA when my mother and father began having heated words in the kitchen of our house. As the kitchen bordered the backyard, I could hear everything that day. Everything. It was not good things for a 9 y/o boy to hear. The words from that day that STILL stick with me are:
"Bob, you're hurting me!!!"
I think he was just grabbing her arm (not sure why I think that) really hard at the time. He must have stopped, because the tone of the argument changed at that point. But those words have stayed with me my entire life. It was that day and those words that made me "think" this note and place it frimly into my life lke a very bright guiding lght. "Bob you're hurting me!", it still makes me shutter!
My parents have been together since they we're about 8 or 9 years old. They were neighborhood boyfriend and girlfriend and shared their first kiss. They were H.S. sweethearts. He was his Class President and she, his rival's lead cheerleader. They were married at 18. They have been together for over 54 years. The day that this incident happened was just a very low day in their very long lives together.
But still, it sealed a promise in my heart that has stuck to this day.
Now, I hope no one else gives me credit for breaking any chains. I really did not do anything of the kind. I just used a really bad moment to adopt a really good view on how things should NOT be between a man and a woman that love each other.
I hope this clears everything up for everyone. Sorry, for the misunderstanding. My bad. It was late when I published this article and I should have known that my remark might cause some concern. I apologize.
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Stephen - Thx Amigo. However, I broke no "real" chains in that regard. Perhaps in other regards, but not this one.
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Nicole - I know what you're talking about. Sometimes I get to feeling the same way. I'm glad you took something from this article.
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Hannah - A serious Dr. Suess? Well. Thank you. I've never been so proud to be a Star-Bellied Sneetch! [his chest stretching out far and wide] Digestable? Ahhhhh, perhaps? But, I have also been told that some people might need a little Beano before enjoying "my" meals, as to prevent the bad case of gas that sometimes ensues. ;)
You're welcome and thank you. I'm glad you felt something. That's a very nice compliment.
"You have a gift for touching hearts"....
Beryl, I don't think I can think of any higher praise than that. Goodness. Thank you so much. Wow. Thank you for the blessings as well.
Jenny is not my heart, but she is the beating behind it. She keeps me alive.
There is always a quality of the power of memory lurking in your work. It gives it added depth.
Memory does as memory is....ya know? A little Gump-ish, I know. LOL! Thank you.
Sorry I missed your comment for better than a year. Thanks and you're right of course.
What an introspective child you must have been (and introspective man you have become)!
I was always (and still am - lol) considered to be a "deep/dark" child that was very introspective and largely quiet until I really came to know someone. Thanks for such nice words.
Thank you!
"I took the noted bottle and tossed the memory away
I realized in that moment, the boy had never really changed
Though now married and a man of twenty-five
I knew my bottled promise would stay with me
for as long as I'm alive"
This is the pivotal point of this poem about pivotal moments that sear their way into our pysche. This stanza tells a lot and leaves a lot to be questioned by the reader. Job well done leading the reader to one point but sharing another.
Ty for understanding and ty for taking the time to see through words that were meant to see through. It's when simple becomes complex and complex becomes simply, that true understanding becomes possible. You have a gift for seeing what most miss. Use it!