Hope

It springs eternal-
is the thing with feathers...
exists where there is life.
It is what sustains us,
after the verdict, the diagnosis...
( though these may be grim.)
It has propelled the immigrant and refugees
into the unknown...
and it lives in the prayers of the abused,
anchoring them to stay,
to endure, hold on, just a little longer.
It is scratched on a cell wall,
is an imaginary flight of fancy
nourishing the condemned.

It is part of a Biblical trio-
joined with faith and love...
It can be a woman's name-
pronounced " Hope" or " Esperanza."
And though it is precious,
hope is not invincible-
it can be exhausted, destroyed,
and when it dies, joy does too,
as does purpose...
and What,? What happens then?