speaking frankly

Kathryn Watson

Letter

To words, which I have most gravely abused,
To “faith”, to “love”, “sincerity” and “truth”
(And the most sincere apology to “you”),
I come with penance: a promise to give up use
Of all syllables that hint at promises,
(Along with) a vow to swear off swearing myself
Into the kinds of impossible vows
That have made me into a liar now.
(I mean this, “honest”, I need this, “hope” that
I will, “never”, sign “heart” into a “fate” when,
“Assuredly”, I’ve no control over the matter. )