On a Theme of Hope

At the present moment some people may well ask how can we find hope amid such uncertainty, fear, the prospect of the unexpected loss of a loved one or perhaps lasting damage to our livelihood?

We may even feel that our loss of hope has been replaced by despair and so on these occasions, we may find inspiration in the words and deeds of others.

 Against this backdrop I thought it would be good to consider poems where hope is expressed.

Not surprisingly, looking through the many poems where hope is the theme, we find that hope uses may expressions or forms: an open road, an unturned page, a map to another world, an ark, an infant, etc. Using metaphors can be helpful since the concept of hope is difficult to describe. It is deeper than simple optimism; elusive even.  It is a feeling we need to explore and perhaps, a bit like faith, it comes through grace. I am reminded  of the meaning of faith in the Hebrews  -  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ( Hebrews 11.1)   If there is hope it can often restore us despite challenges.

 In selecting a poem I looked at two areas. Firstly the usual anthologies but also the Bible and especially the Psalms. I selected the short poem by Emily Dickenson, “Hope is the thing with Feathers “ and Psalm 71. 5-6, 1.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers  

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

The Poems of Emily Dickinson Edited by R. W. Franklin (Harvard University Press, 1999)

Psalm 71.5-6,14

For you, O Lord, are my hope,

    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

Upon you I have leaned from my birth;

    it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.

My praise is continually of you.

But I will hope continually,

    and will praise you yet more and more.

There is an interesting contrast in the way these two poems deal with hope.

Emily Dickinson uses a simple, light touch metaphor with that sense  of hope being likened to a feather brushing our soul.

On the other hand, the Psalm simply challenges us to hope continually, almost presuming we know, or should know, what hope is.

Hopefully you will enjoy both and may find them helpful at this time.

 Submitted by Roger Verrall 7.1.21