The Hamlet Project

Before everyone had contracts and lawyers
Before letters of agreement and parties of the first part
Before everyone had a file in every government and banker’s office drawers
Before paper was readily available for everyone –
One’s word must have held more weight
Swearing – a binding agreement.
Oaths and promises secured heir legitimacy
From the testimonials of the elements.
To add credence to one’s swearing –
Invoke the stars or the moon
The sun, the heavens. You can also get support from the supernatural –
Swear by the gods or their sons or even
The wounds of their sons (depending on the religion, of course.)
Now, however, swearing won’t get you as far as your name
Scrawled across the bottom of a piece of paper –
One you very likely haven’t read the fine print of.