``the promise''

writing on the wall says ``the promise''
big black spray painted letters about two feet tall
just a token gesture to a brother on the other side
an honest effort and a nation defied

words of freedom coming down tonight
long lost families working side by side
a turn with the hammer, a turn holding the light
old gray haired man in an overcoat
stops stares smiles and cries--why?

tonight they've got the streets lighted up
the color of money and people who sing
a parade of families out for a walk
from east to west
carrying hammer, chisel, flashlight,
and passport tonight
somebody's taken out ``the promise''
while they re-unite

the sun is about to rise once
where it used to rise twice
writing and the wall
chiseled away into rubble under feet
and for every person that was shot...
for walking here before
their Christmas gift is the broken ``promise''
turned to dust in the street