Hope can be such a silly thing
It hooks you in with big words and big promises
It sits on your heart dangling its legs, gazing around in childlike wonder
Hope doesn’t know about the future and it completely ignores the past
I felt my Hope stir the other day
As though it were waking up from a deep slumber
Cautiously, it opened one eye and sniffed the air for danger
At no sign of it, the other eye slowly lifted open
Stretching out one limb after the other
Hope twisted and turned, cracking and loosening its joints
Sniffing the air again, it sensed the residual pang of doubt
Dismissing it swiftly, Hope rose and did a jig
It was time for some spring cleaning
Looking around the contents of my heart, Hope paused and raised an eyebrow
Surely, it hadn’t been this long?
It peered into the dark corners thinking… maybe it had
Hope formed two piles, to keep or to throw away
Distrust and solitude were dumped with some difficulty
Followed by anger and pain who refused to surrender quietly
Self-doubt stubbornly kept its ground, clinging to anxiety that had taken root
Hope clapped its hand in satisfaction thinking the job was done
Until sadness reared its ugly head
Like Hypnos, this powerful foe had forced Hope into its deep hibernation
Thinking the battle was won, but oh how it had just begun
Like the forces of old
Sadness unrelenting and immortal sparred with Hope
Guided by the Gods Hope shot its arrow into Sadness as Paris did to Achilles
And the enemy fell defeated
Although, as legends live on so does this nemesis
Who lurks in the corners of my mind waiting for resurrection
Waiting for Hope to fall from grace
Nodding its head approvingly
Hope gently placed healing, love, and gratitude in the ‘to keep’ pile
Lessons have been learned, strength has been gained
The struggle is never over, challenges and hurdles become key players
But Hope—
In all its naivety
Knows how to win the game