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Tuesday
I’ve been traveling today and just have time to share this recent poem about hope, which John Stoehr of the Substack blog Editorial Board alerted me to. I suspect that the author had Emily Dickinson’s “‘Hope’ is that thing with feathers” in mind when she wrote it. I hope you find it as bolstering as I did.
The Courage to Find Hope Within
By Nicolee Grant
I keep thinking
About these words:
‘Abandon hope all ye
who enter here.’
I saw them somewhere.
I am transfixed by one word.
“Hope.”
It plays over and over
In my mind.
I see glares. I see hatred.
I see fear. I see abuse.
I see cruelty.
I see indifference
In light of suffering.
Yet still I hope.
I don’t want to abandon hope.
It is all I have.
It is what tells me
Today will be better
And if not,
Then maybe tomorrow.
So, despite the glares,
I stare straight
Forward and smile.
Despite fear and hatred,
I will pray for the
Courage to love.
Despite abuse,
I will be a conqueror.
Despite cruelty,
I will welcome
And wilfully surround
Myself with kindness.
Despite indifference,
I will hold hope
Close to my bosom
For it is hope
That makes me know
Our blinders can be removed.
