fresh promises

fresh promises you tell each night
fresh hopes you give out like sweets
handed around with sincere light
before closing the door to hit the streets

murmurs of nervousness appear as time
ticks softly through the room
a doorbell rings relaxed sublime
but the wrong person heralds a doom

acting the part as worry grows
phone calls shout of unwanted calls
unselfish answers if only you chose
could allay the dust within these halls

voices raised as we allocate blame
faults of inaction or too much trust
tears of wishing burst into flame
as the iron of family turns to rust

wandering to and fro no design
concentration scared into hiding
stories we buried we now have to mine
and saddle the nightmares for riding

and when you return with no fear
rehearsed remorse upon your tongue
defiant not wishing to hear
the hurt words your people have sung

washed clean with your verbal soap
we watch as you close your eyes
and we listen with ears in hope
to fresh promises and more fresh lies