There will come days, perhaps, my friend, which will Recall a promise made when life was young, When tempters try to lead you down the hill, When sirens lure with silver music sung; When righteous thoughts might savor of a prude, When Satan comes bedecked in guise of friend, And seeks your soul with sinful pleasures lewd, Then will that promise made its strength extend. For promises are like the iron bar The builder uses in his concrete wall; Cement alone might stand the shock and jar, But iron binds and strengthens 'gainst a fall. And every righteous promise which we make And resolution to attempt the best Will steel our souls in trial, and awake The memories which long have been at rest. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EVERYBODY KNOWS by DAVID IGNATOW DISMAL MOMENT PASSING by CLARENCE MAJOR BUCOLIC COMEDY: THE DOLL by EDITH SITWELL |