Paul Lawrence Dunbar's "Promise" is filled with symbolism. The basic definition of the word “promise,” the title of the poem, refers to something that is to be given, granted, or voluntarily kept for the future. However, no promises are kept. A study of the plot reveals that there were actually no promises or guarantees – only an assumption. The “gardener” in this poem symbolizes a lover who, only to satisfy his own selfish desires, feeds and cares for another. The “rose” symbolizes a loved one, a loved one ultimately lost because the lover tries to hold on, win and force love. Love is a freely given feeling, emotion or act; it cannot be boxed or held as a possession. The first look of the lover (gardener) is that of someone very attentive and competent. But the lover seems to take excessive care (over-water) of the loved one (the rose) since he “…nurtures it with more than affectionate care…”. (2). His actions reflect a stifling love, which will often cause love to wither and die....