Auckland Poetry.com

The Promise

Amongst the bushes, in the dust near the narrow road, that leads up to the peak,
a square structure stands, on which was written: a promessa “a promise” and fifth
Of May 1901, cemented into it a piece of a Roman plaque and a rusty iron cross
On top. I have been asking around but the locals have not seen it, simply because
it has been here so long that it is a part of the scenery. What was the promise
about and to whom was it given? Whatever it was it came true hence the tribute.
This shrine is not a work of art, but of a forgotten memory, Important for one or
for many it was deadly serious . Now they are gone and we will not know what it
was about.“ A promessa.” Written with a unsure hand using a twig off an olive
tree on wet cement. I touched the cross but sensed only silence. I looked up to
the sky it was enormous and fearfully silent too. I choose to believe that a man
and his wife had made a promise, to erect a memorial to the God, who holds all
powers, if he was in a merciful mood and let their sick child survive.