I Will

It was the most solemn of promises,

extracted from me when speech was

difficult at best. With fervor and a

kind of burning, he made me promise.

I would have agreed to anything

to soothe those fires, so of course

I said Yes.

     Yes, I will.

         Every day.

               Without fail.

And until such time, hopefully many

years down the road, when our dear

mongrel goes to join him on the other side,

I will put cheese on her breakfast and say

this is from your daddy.

      Every morning.

               Without fail.

                         Yes, I will.