The Keeper of Vows

A Poem on Perseverance

By Michelle Liew Tsui-LinPublished about a year ago • 1 min read

This is for Mikeydred’s January prompt.

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You were there,

seated in the dim glow of eve,

saying “This time,” in soft whispers.

Your list was brief,

Your sigh, lengthy

The embers in the hearth glowed,

Delicate but alive.

**\***\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

The next day,

You moved forth, sure

Resolve sharp as wintry air.

But it was glass-

It shattered, fragments scattered,

Under the weight of

“Tomorrow."

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

I touched the photo

You as a child, barefoot, emboldened,

And watched you run,

Your legs firm on the ground

Their stride perfect.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

By the seventh day,

Your embers dimmed.

I sent stranger, one who coaxed.

“I laud your resolve.”

Her spark was yours.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*

Now you amble,

But each step you take glows bright

Your light joins other stars-

The constellation of bright lights

Which choose to burn

Forever.

inspirational

About the Creator

Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin

Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.

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Comments (9)

L.I.E12 months ago
Absolutely beautiful! Love how smooth and elegant your words are.
Cindy Calderabout a year ago
Beautifully lingering and resonating. Well done, Michelle.
Mother Combsabout a year ago
Wow, this is great. Beautifully done
Lana V Lynxabout a year ago
Beautiful, Michelle!
Maryam Batoolabout a year ago
This is such a heartwarming piece ❤
Komalabout a year ago
This is so beautifully done! That ending? Perfectly uplifting—like saying, “You’ve got this, and you’re shining brighter than ever!” Lovely work!
Marie381Uk about a year ago
I Love this ♦️♦️♦️🌺
Dharrsheena Raja Segarranabout a year ago
Oh wow, this was so deep and beautifully written! Loved it!
Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred about a year ago
Great take on the challenge taking in looking back and forward