The Promise
They stopped the clocks at nine-oh-eight
And covered up the mirrors
Turned his pictures to the wall
And placed the bible a little nearer
They closed the curtains; turned out the lights
But kept the candles burning
His best friend, the dog, let out a sigh
And in circles he kept turning
She laid out a suit that he seldom wore
And hung up his overalls
Sat in the kitchen, near the phone
Getting ready to make the calls
A tear escaped from his widow’s eye
Though she promised not to cry
The only request made in sixty years
She said that she would try
The Parson said a prayer or two
Then started his way home
The doctor left some pills with her
Before leaving her alone
He lay in the bed the two had shared
Ever since their wedding night
For God to take her man first
Just didn’t feel all right
The children arrived by the end of the week
Grandkids played out in the yard
Saying goodbye to the stern old man
Shouldn’t have been this very hard
The clocks still show nine-oh-eight
Though five years have come and gone
The dog has passed, the bible is put away
Overalls still hang where they were hung
She sleeps each night in the rocking chair
Refusing to climb into the bed
Trying to keep the promise she made
But every night a tear is shed
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